Protective effect of tarantula cubensis extract on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat ovaries: Immunohistochemical, biochemical and histopathological evaluations

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a common pathology affecting the ovary. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Tarantula cubensis extract (TCE) on ovarian IR injury. Forty-two female rats were used and randomly divided into 7 groups: Control, Sham, IR, Ischemia+TCE+Reperfusion, TCE+IR, Ischemia+Ethanol+Reperfusion and Ethanol+IR. The control and sham groups did not receive any treatment. All other groups were subjected to 3 h of ischemia + 3 h of reperfusion. A single dose of TCE (0.2 ml Theranekron) was administered subcutaneously either before or after ischemia in the treatment groups. In the last 2 groups, ethanol was applied before or after ischemia. After reperfusion, blood samples were collected and analyzed for biochemical parameters. Additionally, the ovarian tissue was evaluated histopathologically and immunohistochemically. The IR group exhibited more marked hyperemia, hemorrhage, and necrosis. Both treatment groups showed histopathological improvement. Moreover, the recovery rate was greater in the animals given theranekron before ischemia. IR injury caused oxidative stress in the rats. However, Theranekron did not significantly reduce the MDA levels (p > 0.05). On the other hand, SOD levels were significantly increased in the treatment groups (p < 0.01). Compared to the control and sham groups, the IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were very high in the IR group. Conversely, the immunoreactivity of these cytokines was further reduced in the animals given theranekron before ischemia. Our findings suggest that TCE may be beneficial in the treatment of ovarian IR damage, especially when Theranekron is given before ischemia.