Taxifolin attenuates ischemia-reperfusion induced oxidative ovarian damage in rats

Objective: To investigate preventive effects of taxifolin on ischemia-reperfusion induced oxidative ovarian damage in rats. Methods: A total of 18 female Wistar albino rats were randomly and equally divided into three groups: the sham group, the ovarian ischemia reperfusion group, and the 50 mg/kg taxifolin+ovarian ischemia reperfusion group. The ovarian ischemia reperfusion and taxifolin+ovarian ischemia reperfusion groups were exposed to ischemia for 2 h and then followed by two-hour reperfusion protocol. Biochemical and histopathologic examinations were performed on the extracted ovaries. Results: Levels of malondialdehyde and cyclooxygenase-2 were increased, while reduced-glutathione and cyclooxygenase-1 were decreased in the ovarian ischemia reperfusion group. However, these values were reversed in the taxifolin+ovarian ischemia reperfusion group. Similarly, the number of primordial and developing follicules decreased in the ovarian ischemia reperfusion group, while they were within normal range in the taxifolin+ovarian ischemia reperfusion group. Conclusions: Ischemia followed by reperfusion leads to oxidative stress-related ovarian injury, and taxifolin may be useful for protecting ovarian tissue from such injury.