title: The protective effects of beta-carotene against ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat ovarian tissue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beta-carotene is a well-known antioxidant and precursor of Vitamin A that has a preventative role in the oxidative damage process. Our aim was to investigate the possible preventive effects of beta-carotene on oxidative damage via experimental ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion models in rat ovaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A traumatic vascular clamps were used for 3h to induce ischemia (Group 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). The clamps were then removed to allow reperfusion for 3h (Group 3, 6, 7). Sham-operated rats (Group 1) underwent laparotomy without the induction of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Real-Time-PCR was performed to determine IL-1-beta, IL-6 and iNOS expression levels. Histopathological (H&E) and immunohistochemical staining (NF-kβ p65) processes were then performed. Finally, SOD, GSH, and MDA levels were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intense hemorrhagic areas were observed in both the ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion groups, whereas minimal hemorrhage was observed in the treatment groups. The ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion groups exhibited extreme immunoreactivity, detected by NF-kβ p65 staining; this reactivity decreased after the application of beta-carotene. The expression of IL-1-beta, IL-6, and iNOS in the injury groups increased significantly, whereas a dose-dependent improvement was observed in the treatment groups. Finally, MDA levels increased significantly and SOD and GSH levels decreased drastically in the injury groups. However, these values obtained from I/R groups were normalized after beta-carotene treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we demonstrated via molecular and biochemical parameters the protective effect of beta-carotene, which is a potent antioxidant, on the experimental ischemia-reperfusion model.
authors.affiliation: Kafkas University, Medical Faculty, Department of Histology and Embryology, 36100 Kars, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksak Karamese
authors.affiliation: Ataturk University, Medical Faculty, Department of Histology and Embryology, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toktay
authors.affiliation: Ataturk University, Medical Faculty, Department of Histology and Embryology, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.affiliation: Ataturk University, Medical Faculty, Department of Histology and Embryology, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Jale
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selli
authors.affiliation: Kafkas University, Medical Faculty, Department of Microbiology, 36100 Kars, Turkey. Electronic address: murat_karamese@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamese
authors.affiliation: Ataturk University, Medical Faculty, Department of Anatomy, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Malkoc
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019207:beta Carotene; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Beta-carotene; Ischemia; Ovary; Rat; Reperfusion