The protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid in experimental ovarian ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on reperfusion injury in a rat ovarian torsion-detorsion model. The changes in tissue and plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), end-product of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), xanthine oxidase (XO) and nitric oxide (NO), were determined. Ovarian histopathological findings were scored and compared among groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Sham operation was performed in group I; in group II only ovarian torsion was performed. Group III received intraperitoneal injections of saline, and group IV received LA via intraperitoneal injections (LA group: aqueous solution at 36 mg/kg of body weight per day, saline group: equal volume of saline) 21, nine, and one hour before torsion of the ovary. Rats in the torsion group were killed after 360 degrees clockwise adnexial torsion for three hours, and ovaries were harvested. After three hours of adnexial detorsion, the rats in saline group and LA group were killed and adnexa were surgically removed.

RESULTS: Ovarian tissue damage scores were significantly different among groups and were seen to correlate with tissue MDA levels. Ovarian tissue and serum MDA, NO and serum XO levels in the group III were significantly higher than those of the groups I and IV (P<0.05). The serum levels of SOD in the group III were significantly lower than those of the groups I and IV (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LA pretreatment has beneficial effects in the prevention of ischaemia-reperfusion injury of the ovaries.