Investigation of protective effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) against toxic damage caused by doxorubicin in rat ovaries

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate whether dehydroepiandrosterone has a protective effect on doxorubicin-induced ovarian damage.Methods: The rats were divided into three groups. Group 1 (the control Group): no treatment was administered. Intact ovarian tissue was removed, and blood samples were taken for the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) test. Group 2 (the doxorubicin Group): Rats received doxorubicin intraperitoneally at a single dose of 3 mg/kg. Group 3 (the doxorubicin + DHEA Group): Rats received doxorubicin intraperitoneally at a single dose of 3 mg/kg at baseline and DHEA subcutaneously for 10 days at a dose of 60 mg/kg daily. Rats in groups 2 and 3 were sacrificed at the end of 10 days, ovarian tissues were removed and blood samples were taken for AMH test.Results: While normal ovarian tissue damage scores were zero except hemorrhage, doxorubicin showed significant damage and histopathological changes in all rats. Doxorubicin and Doxorubicin + DHEA groups had higher edema, vascular congestion, cellular degeneration, and total damage scores than the normal ovarian group. The number of antral follicles and ovarian volume decreased in the doxorubicin group compared to the normal ovarian group (p = 0.011 and 0.002, respectively). In the doxorubicin + DHEA group, ovarian volume was similar to the normal ovary (p = 0.091), but the number of antral follicles was significantly lower in this group (p = 0.002). AMH values did not differ between the normal ovarian group and the other groups. Conclusions: It was concluded that DHEA was not effective in preventing ovarian damage caused by doxorubicin.