Erdem Toktay - Kafkas University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Kars
Tugba Tastan - Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Erzurum
Muhammed Gurbuz - Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Erzurum
Elif Erbas - Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Erzurum
Ozlem Demir - Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Erzurum
Rustem Ugan - Ataturk University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Erzurum
Jale Selli - Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Antalya

Objective(s): We thought that astaxanthin (ASX) might be a protective agent in oxidative stress damage that develops against ischemia and reperfusion injury in the rat ovary.Materials and Methods: The experimental groups consisted of healthy, I (Ischemia), I+ASX۵۰, I+ASX۱۰۰, I/R (Ischemia/Reperfusion), I/R+ ASX۵۰, and I/R+ ASX۱۰۰. Vascular clamps were applied to the ovaries for ۳ hr to induce ischemia. For the reperfusion groups, the clamps were opened and blood flow was restored to the ovaries for ۳ hr. At the end of the experiment, biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses were made from the tissue samples taken.Results: While MDA levels increased significantly in I and I/R groups, SOD levels decreased. It was found that ASX significantly decreased MDA levels and increased SOD activity in treatment groups depending on the dose. Caspase ۳, IL-۱ β, and IL-۶ expressions were severely increased in ischemia and I/R groups, while the severity of I+ASX۵۰ and I/R+ASX۱۰۰ immunoreactivity was decreased. While severe hemorrhage areas were observed in I and IR groups, minimal hemorrhage areas were observed in the treatment groups, especially in I/R+ASX۱۰۰ groups. In addition, inflammatory cells and necrotic cells in the I/R group were not observed in I/R+ASX۵۰ and I/R+ASX۱۰۰ groups.Conclusion: As a result, it was determined that ASX has a strong protective role against oxidative damage in the treatment of ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Astaxanthin, Ischemia, Ovary, Oxidative stress, Rat, Reperfusion