Ismet Hortu1,2, Gokay Ozceltik3, Ahmet Mete Ergenoglu3, Gurkan Yigitturk4, Ozum Atasoy5, Oytun Erbas6. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. ismethortu@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Stem Cell, Ege University Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey. ismethortu@yahoo.com. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. 4. Department of Histology and Embryology, Mugla Sıtkı Kocman University School of Medicine, Mugla, Turkey. 5. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Health Sciences Kartal Lutfi Kırdar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. 6. Department of Physiology, Demiroglu Bilim University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Although cancer predominantly affects people at older ages, a substantial number of patients, like breast cancer patients, are diagnosed before they have completed their families or even before giving birth. Furthermore, cytotoxic chemotherapy may be required in addition to treat cancer survivors. The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of oxytocin (OT) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced ovarian toxicity in rats. METHODS: Eighteen adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. All rats were divided randomly into three groups. The control group (n = 6) received no treatment. The remaining 12 rats received a single dose of 20 mg/kg of MTX. Half of the rats (n = 6) were treated with 1 mg/kg/day of saline, and the other half (n = 6) were treated with 160 µg/kg/day of OT for 21 days. Then, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, and an ovariectomy was performed for histopathological examination. RESULTS: Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels were significantly lower in the MTX + OT group compared to the MTX + saline group (p = 0.000036 for MDA; p = 0.0044 for TGF-β). AMH levels were also significantly higher in the MTX + OT group than in the MTX + saline group (p = 0.000036). The ovarian fibrosis percent was also notably lower in the MTX + OT group than in the MTX + saline group (p = 0.000036). CONCLUSION: On the basis of these findings, OT is a promising agent for ameliorating harmful effects of MTX on rat ovaries in an experimental model.
PURPOSE: Although cancer predominantly affects people at older ages, a substantial number of patients, like breast cancerpatients, are diagnosed before they have completed their families or even before giving birth. Furthermore, cytotoxic chemotherapy may be required in addition to treat cancer survivors. The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of oxytocin (OT) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced ovarian toxicity in rats. METHODS: Eighteen adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. All rats were divided randomly into three groups. The control group (n = 6) received no treatment. The remaining 12 rats received a single dose of 20 mg/kg of MTX. Half of the rats (n = 6) were treated with 1 mg/kg/day of saline, and the other half (n = 6) were treated with 160 µg/kg/day of OT for 21 days. Then, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, and an ovariectomy was performed for histopathological examination. RESULTS: Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels were significantly lower in the MTX + OT group compared to the MTX + saline group (p = 0.000036 for MDA; p = 0.0044 for TGF-β). AMH levels were also significantly higher in the MTX + OT group than in the MTX + saline group (p = 0.000036). The ovarian fibrosis percent was also notably lower in the MTX + OT group than in the MTX + saline group (p = 0.000036). CONCLUSION: On the basis of these findings, OT is a promising agent for ameliorating harmful effects of MTX on ratovaries in an experimental model.