Protective effects of vitamin C and vitamin E against hysterosalpingography-induced epithelial degeneration and proliferation in rat endometrium

Treatment strategies with vitamin E and C in autologous intraperitoneal ovarian transplantation and its impact on ovarian surface epithelium and follicle reserve

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of Vitamin E (Vit E) and Vitamin C (Vit C) on markers of the oxidant-antioxidant system, ovarian follicle reserves, and the surface epithelium in autologous intraperitoneal ovarian transplantation conducted in rats. The study aimed to investigate how these antioxidants influence various aspects related to transplantation outcomes, including oxidative stress markers, the preservation of follicle reserves, and the condition of the surface epithelium. A total of 20 adult female Wistar Albino rats were included in the study and randomly assigned to four different groups. Group 1, consisting of 5 rats, served as the control group and underwent a surgical procedure where their abdomens were opened and closed without any further intervention. Group 2, also consisting of 5 rats, underwent ovarian transplantation. In Group 3, comprising 5 rats, an intraperitoneal (IP) administration of 20 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of Vitamin E (Vit E) was given 15 min prior to ovarian transplantation. Lastly, in Group 4, which included 5 rats, an IP administration of 50 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of Vitamin C (Vit C) was given 15 min before ovarian transplantation. Vaginal cytology was performed in order to monitor the estrus phase in the rats. Biochemically, tissue and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were measured. Histopathologically, the number of dysplastic changes in the ovarian surface epithelium and primordial, primary, secondary, Graaffian, and atretic follicles were examined. Dysplastic changes in the surface epithelium of Group 2 were found to be significantly higher than in Group 1 and 4 (p < 0.02). In Group 2, the ovarian follicle reserves (primordial, primary, secondary, and Graaffian follicles) were significantly lower than in other groups (p < 0.02). In addition, a significant decrease in SOD levels was found in Group 2 compared to other groups (p < 0.02). The study showed that Vit E and Vit C in autologous intraperitoneal ovarian transplantation preserved the ovarian follicle reserve. Vit C was found to be more effective than Vit E.

Protective effects of L-carnitine on X irradiation-induced uterus injury via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways

PURPOSE

Ionizing radiation causes oxidative stress induced tissue damage as well as a decline in reproduction incidence. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of L-carnitine on radiation-induced uterine injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty Wistar albino rats were classified into five groups. Physiological saline was administered intraperitoneally to the control group. A single dose of 8.3 Gy whole body X-irradiation was applied to the radiation-1 and radiation-2 groups. These groups were sacrificed on the 6th hour and 4th day, respectively, after irradiation. Radiation-1 + L-carnitine and radiation-2 + L-carnitine groups received a daily dose of 200 mg/kg L-carnitine in addition to the same dose of irradiation. L-carnitine was also applied one day before and four days after irradiation.

RESULTS

L-carnitine therapy partially blocks the depletion of the deep glands and radiation-induced flattening of the glandular epithelium and endometrial surface. Proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were found to be significantly expressed in the uterus tissue of irradiated mice. In the radiation groups, NFκB and PARP-1 expressions in uterine tissue was significantly increased compared to L-carnitine treated and the control groups. It was observed that the oxidative stress index increased in the radiation groups, but decreased in the L-carnitine applied groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that L-carnitine has a positive effect on radiation-induced uterine damage. L-carnitine may be a potential safe radio protective agent during radiotherapy for pelvic cancer provided the tumor is not protected from radiation damage to the same extent as the normal tissue is. However, prospective clinical trial studies are necessary to understand its efficacy.

Molecular Mechanism and Prevention Strategy of Chemotherapy- and Radiotherapy-Induced Ovarian Damage

Fertility preservation is an emerging discipline, which is of substantial clinical value in the care of young patients with cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation may induce ovarian damage in prepubertal girls and young women. Although many studies have explored the mechanisms implicated in ovarian toxicity during cancer treatment, its molecular pathophysiology is not fully understood. Chemotherapy may accelerate follicular apoptosis and follicle reservoir utilization and damage the ovarian stroma via multiple molecular reactions. Oxidative stress and the radiosensitivity of oocytes are the main causes of gonadal damage after radiation treatment. Fertility preservation options can be differentiated by patient age, desire for conception, treatment regimen, socioeconomic status, and treatment duration. This review will help highlight the importance of multidisciplinary oncofertility strategies for providing high-quality care to young female cancer patients.

Phytoestrogen genistein hinders ovarian oxidative damage and apoptotic cell death-induced by ionizing radiation: co-operative role of ER-β, TGF-β, and FOXL-2

Radiotherapy is a well-known cause of premature ovarian failure (POF). Therefore, we investigated the molecular influence of genistein (GEN) on the ovarian reserve of rats exposed to ϒ-radiation. Female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to a 3.2 Gy γ-radiation to induce POF and/or treated with either GEN (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or Ethinyl estradiol (E2; 0.1 mg/kg, s.c.), once daily for 10 days. GEN was able to conserve primordial follicles stock and population of growing follicles accompanied with reduction in atretic follicles. GEN restored the circulating estradiol and anti-Müllerian hormone levels which were diminished after irradiation. GEN has potent antioxidant activity against radiation-mediated oxidative stress through upregulating endogenous glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activity. Mechanistically, GEN inhibited the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis by repressing Bax expression and augmenting Bcl-2 expression resulted in reduced Bax/Bcl-2 ratio with subsequent reduction in cytochrome c and caspase 3 expression. These promising effects of GEN are associated with improving granulosa cells proliferation. On the molecular basis, GEN reversed ovarian apoptosis through up-regulation of ER-β and FOXL-2 with downregulation of TGF-β expression, therefore inhibiting transition of primordial follicles to more growing follicles. GEN may constitute a novel therapeutic modality for safeguarding ovarian function of females' cancer survivors.

The immunohistochemical and histologic effects of contrast medium on uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, given during hysterosalpingography: rat study

Objective:

Previous studies have shown that damage occurs to internal genital tract during hysterosalpingography (HSG). The aim was to show that endometrial and tubal epithelium underwent free radical damage during HSG in an animal model.

Material and Methods:

Forty rats were evaluated in five different groups. Two groups received ionizing radiation (15-20 miliRad three times) only. Two further groups received ionizing radiation in combination with iohexol (1-2 mL). The remaining group served as control. Groups were evaluated after seven and forty-two days. Inflammation and cellular changes were evaluated histopathologically. Cellular activity of antioxidant enzymes was assessed immunohistochemically.

Results:

Inflammation, and cellular changes were detected at certain rates in all groups (p<0.001). Glutathione reductase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase activities were found to be increased after the HSG (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

It is obvious that the cell suffers acute and chronic damage during HSG due to both radioactivity and chemicals. Although there is a lot of research done before, there is no definitive method yet to protect against the harmful effects of iodinated contrast agents and ionizing radiation. So, new methods need to be explored to protect cells and tissues from reactive oxygen radical damage caused by HSG.

Examination of the effect of ovarian radiation injury induced by hysterosalpingography on ovarian proliferating cell nuclear antigen and the radioprotective effect of amifostine: an experimental study

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of amifostine on cellular injury in the ovarian tissue induced by hysterosalpingography (HSG).

Methods

In total, forty 4-month old female Wistar Albino rats were assigned into 8 groups. Each group contained 5 rats. Group 1 (G1): rats were decapitated without any procedure. Group 2 (G2): rats were decapitated after 3 hours of total body irradiation. Group 3 (G3): rats were decapitated 3 hours after HSG procedure. Group 4 (G4): rats were decapitated 3 hours after HSG procedure performed 30 min after receiving amifostine 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Group 5 (G5): rats were decapitated after 1 month without any procedure. Group 6 (G6): rats were decapitated after 1 month of total body irradiation. Group 7 (G7): rats were decapitated 1 month after HSG procedure. Group 8 (G8): rats were decapitated 1 month after HSG procedure performed 30 min after receiving amifostine 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally. After rats were decapitated under general anesthesia in all groups, blood samples were obtained and bilateral ovaries were removed. One of the ovaries was placed in 10% formaldehyde solution for histological germinal epithelial degeneration, apoptosis and proliferating cell nuclear antigen scoring. The other ovary and blood sera were stored at −80°C. TNF-α, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and malondialdehyde levels were studied in tissue samples and anti-mullerian hormone levels in blood samples.

Results

At the end of the first month, there was significant ovarian germinal epithelium degeneration. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunoreactivity was significantly reduced in all other groups when compared with G1 and G5.

Conclusion

In conclusion, amifostine could significantly reduce the ovarian cellular injury induced by HSG.

Investigating isoquinoline derivatives for inhibition of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins for ovarian cancer treatment

Objective

To discover novel isoquinoline derivatives for inhibition of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Methods

We first synthesized 533 isoquinoline derivatives, and screened them using CCK-8 to measure their antiproliferative activity. These compounds were further tested by Hoechst staining and flow cytometric analysis to assess proapoptotic activity. The in vivo antitumor efficacy and safety of the screened compounds were evaluated on the xenograft mouse model. Ki-67 staining and TUNEL assay were used to evaluate proliferation and apoptosis in the resected tumors, respectively. Western blot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were conducted to evaluate the levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), caspase-3, PARP, and IAP in resected tumors.

Results

Compound B01002 and C26001 displayed antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity on SKOV3 ovarian cancer with an IC50 of 7.65 and 11.68 µg/mL, respectively. Both compounds inhibited tumor growth in a xenografted mouse model with good safety profiles, and tumor growth inhibition (TGI) of B01002 and C26001 was 99.53% and 84.23%, respectively. Resected tumors showed that both compounds inhibited tumor cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in vivo. Caspase-3 and PARP were activated, whereas IAP proteins were downregulated at the protein level.

Conclusion

Compound B01002 and C26001 could inhibit ovarian tumor growth and promote tumor apoptosis, partly by downregulating the IAPs, and, thus, might be promising candidates for treatment of ovarian cancer.