title: The use of a prostacyclin analog, iloprost, as an adjunct to uterus preservation with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although assisted reproductive techniques have made most causes of both male and female infertility treatable, uterine factor infertility is not able to therapy. Therefore, transplantation of the uterus has been suggested as a future possible cure. Organ preservation solutions seek to reduce reperfusion injury. Since iloprost is an antioxidant with cytoprotective properties, we investigated its potential positive effects in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution after 4 or 24 h cold storage period of the rat uterus.
  
  
  METHODS
  We divided 24 female Wistar-albino rats into four groups: Group 1 had the uterus tissue stored in HTK solution at 4 °C for 4h. Group 2, the tissue was stored in HTK solution combined with iloprost (10(-8) M) for 4h at 4 °C. The same procedures were repeated for 24 h for Groups 3 and 4 respectively. Tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), as indicators of oxidative stress were determined with histopathological evaluations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MDA and NO levels were compared between the group 1 vs 3; and 2 vs 4. No significant difference was observed between the groups. Cold storage for 24 h produced alterations in histological appearances that were mitigated by the addition of iloprost to HTK solution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, addition of iloprost to HTK solution reversed the histological alterations after 24h-cold storage of the rat uterus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Gazi University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. barun@gazi.edu.trsbarun99@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özat
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Güngor
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demiroğullari
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Sökmensüer
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Aksakal
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Erçin
authors.forename: Ö
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Gülbahai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müftüoğlu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose; D016285:Iloprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008353:Mannitol; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D011309:Preservation, Biological; D011343:Procaine; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C039984:Bretschneider cardioplegic solution; D008353:Mannitol; D011343:Procaine; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D005947:Glucose; D016285:Iloprost