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.