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 360 degrees 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.