Protective effect of colchicine on ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to investigate the efficiency of colchicine in the experimental rat ovarian torsion model in the light of histological and biochemical data.

STUDY DESIGN: A total of 35 Wistar albino female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, group 1: (control-sham operated, n = 7); group 2: (torsion/detorsion, n = 7) 2 hours of ischemia and 2 hours of reperfusion; group 3: (torsion/detorsion, n = 7), 2 hours of ischemia and 5 days of reperfusion; group 4: (torsion/detorsion, n = 7) 2 hours of ischemia and 2 hours of reperfusion and a signal dose of oral 1 mL/kg colchicine; and group 5: (torsion/detorsion, n = 7), 2 hours of ischemia and 5 days of reperfusion and 5 days of oral 1 mg/kg colchicine. Histopathologic evaluation was performed by a scoring that assesses congestion, bleeding, edema, and cellular degeneration in the ovarian tissue. Catalase, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonyl levels were calculated.

RESULTS: The histopathologic scores, MDA, and protein carbonyl levels in the control and colchicine groups were significantly lower than groups 2 and 3 (P < .001). Catalase activities were significantly higher in the control and colchicine groups than in groups 2 and 3 (P < .001). The results of the histopathologic parameters and biochemical markers showed that protective effects of colchicine treatment persisted up to 5 days.

CONCLUSION: Our study results revealed that colchicine reduced ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury in experimental rat ovarian torsion model. As the ovarian detorsion is the first choice of the treatment modality in the early phase, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory treatment modalities like colchicine might be used to reduce ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury.