Ischaemia-reperfusion injury of rat ovary and the effects of vitamin C, mannitol and verapamil.

BACKGROUND In this prospective controlled study, the aim was to examine the effects of vitamin C, mannitol and verapamil on adnexial ischaemia-reperfusion injury in the rat ovary. METHODS Thirty-six female Wistar rats were used. In the controls (group 1), only laparotomy was performed. In group 2, ovarian ischaemia was produced and the bilateral ovaries were surgically removed 4 h later. In group 3, an ischaemic period of 4 h was followed by reperfusion for 1 h; the bilateral ovaries were then removed. In groups 4, 5 and 6, after 4 h of ischaemia, either vitamin C, mannitol or verapamil respectively was infused before reperfusion; after 1 h of reperfusion the ovaries were removed. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels were measured in all ovary tissues. RESULTS TBARS levels of the reperfusion group were significantly higher than those of groups treated with vitamin C or mannitol (P = 0.013 and P = 0.045 respectively), but not of the verapamil group. CONCLUSIONS Vitamin C and mannitol were found to be effective in reducing ischaemia-reperfusion injury of the ovary during its early stages, but verapamil was ineffective.