The Effects of Quercetin on the Tissue Quality and Function of Mouse Autotransplanted Ovary

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Ischemia-Reperfusion injury, followed by the production of oxygen free radicals and oxidative stress are the main limitations of ovarian tissue transplantation. We aimed to investigate the effects of quercetin as an antioxidant on the quality of autotransplanted mouse ovaries. Methods In total, 36 female NMRI mice were divided into 3 groups of control, autografted, and autografted + quercetin (50 mg/kg/day). Treatment was performed one day before till 7 days after transplantation and 28 days after transplantation; ovaries were removed for stereological assessments. Serum samples were collected on days 7 and 28 post-transplantation to measure the level of malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, estradiol, and progesterone. The obtained data were analyzed using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test at the significance level of P<0.05. Results The mean total volume of the ovary, the volume of the cortex, and the volume of the medulla, the mean number of different types of follicles (P<0.001), the level of estradiol (P<0.05), progesterone (P<0.001), and total antioxidant capacity (P<0.01), and the recovery rate of the estrous cycle (P<0.001) significantly decreased in the autografted group, compared to the controls; however, the mentioned parameters significantly increased in the autografted + quercetin group, compared to the autografted group (P<0.01). A significant increase was observed in the level of malondialdehyde on days 7 (P<0.001) and 28 (P<0.01) post-transplantation in the autografted group, compared to the control group; however, this parameter was compensated to the control level in the autografted + quercetin group. Conclusion The present study findings revealed indicated that quercetin could improve tissue quality and the function of autotransplanted mouse ovaries.

Keywords

• ovary- transplanta-tion
• quercetin
• stereology
• mouse