Background: Many health problems are related to lifestyle and dietary factors. Since ancient times, food additives such as sulfites have been used to preserve foods. Diverse effects of sulfites on multiple organs have been reported but its effect on female reproductive organ has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium metabisulfite (SMB) on ovarian tissue in adult rats.

Methods: Four groups of female rats (n=32) were used. The experimental rats received 10, 100 and 260 mg/kg SMB for 28 days (S10, S100 and S260 groups, respectively). The control rats received distilled water for the same period. The ovarian volume, weight and the number of different types of follicles were estimated by stereological methods. Lipid peroxidation is assessed indirectly by the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method.

Results: The results showed a significant decrease in the ovarian volume, the number of primordial, primary, secondary, grafian follicles and corpus luteum in the SMB-treated animals compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In comparison to the control group, the number of atretic follicles increased in the SMB-treated rats. MDA was significantly increased in S260 group compared to the control group.

Conclusion: The present data confirm sulfite-induced structural changes in the ovary. Increased level of MDA because of SMB ingestion suggests that free radicals may have a critical role in these changes.