Resveratrol, a red wine constituent polyphenol, protects from ischemia-reperfusion damage of the ovaries

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of resveratrol on histopathological changes, antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation, in torsion-detorsion injury in rat ovaries. Method: To determine whether ischemia followed by reperfusion can induce ovarian oxidative damage, we created a model of adnexal ischemia-reperfusion by using rats. Ischemia was induced by unilateral occlusion of the tubo-ovarian vessels for 3 h. Reperfusion was achieved by releasing the occlusion and restoring the circulation for 3 h. Thirty-two adult female albino rats were divided equally into 4 groups: sham operation, torsion, saline/detorsion and resveratrol/detorsion. Rats in the torsion group were killed after 360degrees clockwise adnexal torsion for 3 h. Resveratrol was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before detorsion in the resveratrol/detorsion group, and saline was administered in the saline/detorsion group. After 3 h of adnexal detorsion in both of these groups, the rats were killed and adnexa were removed. The tissue levels of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione and xanthine oxidase activity were measured. Results: Malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase levels in the saline/detorsion group were increased significantly when compared to the torsion and sham operation groups (p<0.001). Malondialdehyde levels in the resveratrol group were lower than in the saline/detorsion group, and differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.001). Xanthine oxidase levels in the resveratrol group were lower than in the saline/detorsion and torsion groups, and differences between these groups were statistically significant (p<0.001). Reduced glutathione levels in the saline/ detorsion group were decreased significantly when compared to the torsion and sham operation groups. Reduced glutathione levels in the resveratrol group were significantly higher than in the saline/detorsion group (p<0.006). Histological examination showed a significant improvement in ovarian morphology in the resveratrol-treated rats compared with the ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion groups. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that intraperitoneal resveratrol administration reduced the lipid peroxidation products of ischemic rats and ovarian damage was reduced as indicated by histological examination. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.