Iranian Journal of Toxicology

en Extract of Actaea racemosa Protects Mice Ovarian Follicles Against Doxorubicin-induced Toxicity عمومى General پژوهشي Research Background: Given the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment, there is a need to develop alternative agents to protect female fertility. This study investigated the effect of Actaea racemosa (A. racemosa) extract on mice ovarian cells and the damage caused by doxorubicin (DOX) to the mice ovaries. Methods: We evaluated the effects of A. racemosa extract on mice ovaries (n=42) after DOX treatment. The mice were pre-treated with saline solution (controls) or with 0.5 or 5 mg/kg A. Racemosa extract. Afterward, during a period of 10 days, they were treated daily with one of the six protocols: (i) saline solution (control), (ii) 10 mg/kg DOX, (iii) 0.5 mg/kg A. racemosa extract, (iv) both DOX and 5 mg/kg A. racemosa extract, (v) A. racemosa extract (5 mg/kg), and (vi) both DOX and 0.5 mg/kg A. racemosa extract. At the end of these treatments, the ovaries were fixed for histopathological examinations. Ovarian follicular morphology, stromal cell density, collagen fibers, and TNF-α expression were evaluated. Some ovaries were fixed for transmission electron microscopy or stored at -80oC to study the mRNA expression for Caspase-3 and TNF-α. Results: The Mice treated with A. racemosa extract had reduced follicular degeneration and cell death after exposure to DOX. Ovaries of mice treated with 0.5 mg/kg A. racemosa extract had granulosa cells and oocytes with preserved ultrastructure, decreased immunostaining for TNF-α, and reduced Caspase-3 mRNA. Conclusion: The A. racemosa extract supported follicular survival and protected the ovarian follicles and stromal cells against DOX-induced cytotoxicity. Cancer, Cytotoxicity, Folliculogenesis, Gene expression, Ovaries 61 70 http://ijt.arakmu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1220-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Miguel Fernandes de Lima Neto migueel_f@hotmail.com 100319475328460016583 100319475328460016583 No Laboratory of Biotechnology and Physiology of Reproduction–LABIREP, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral, CE, Brazil Ernando Igo Teixeira de Assis ernandoigor@gmail.com 100319475328460016584 100319475328460016584 No Laboratory of Biotechnology and Physiology of Reproduction–LABIREP, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral, CE, Brazil Antônia Venância Nunes Azevedo venancianunes@gmail.com 100319475328460016585 100319475328460016585 No Laboratory of Biotechnology and Physiology of Reproduction–LABIREP, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral, CE, Brazil Laís Raiane Feitosa Melo Paulino lais.raiane@fied.edu.br 100319475328460016586 100319475328460016586 No Laboratory of Biotechnology and Physiology of Reproduction–LABIREP, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral, CE, Brazil Mariana Aragão Matos Donato maridonato@gmail.com 100319475328460016587 100319475328460016587 No Laboratory of Ultrastructure, CNPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Federal University of Pernambuco Recife, PE, Brazil Christina Alves Peixoto peixoto.christina@gmail.com 100319475328460016588 100319475328460016588 No Laboratory of Ultrastructure, CNPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Federal University of Pernambuco Recife, PE, Brazil Alane Pains Oliveira do Monte alane.monte@univasf.edu.br 100319475328460016589 100319475328460016589 No Nucleus of Biotechnology Applied to Ovarian Follicle Development, Federal University of São Francisco Valley, Petrolina, PE, Brazil Maria Helena Tavares de Matos helena.matos@univasf.edu.br 100319475328460016590 100319475328460016590 No Nucleus of Biotechnology Applied to Ovarian Follicle Development, Federal University of São Francisco Valley, Petrolina, PE, Brazil Alana Nogueira Godinho alana_nog@yahoo.com.br 100319475328460016591 100319475328460016591 No Nucleus of Research in Animal Experimentation–NUPEX, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral, CE, Brazil Jordânia Marques de Oliveira Freire jordaniafreire25@gmail.com 100319475328460016592 100319475328460016592 No Nucleus of Research in Animal Experimentation–NUPEX, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral, CE, Brazil Ricássio de Sousa Barberino rsbarberino@gmail.com 100319475328460016593 100319475328460016593 No Nucleus of Biotechnology Applied to Ovarian Follicle Development, Federal University of São Francisco Valley, Petrolina, PE, Brazil Anderson Weiny Barbalho Silva andersonweiny@sobral.ufc.br 100319475328460016594 100319475328460016594 No Laboratory of Biotechnology and Physiology of Reproduction–LABIREP, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral, CE, Brazil José Roberto Viana Silva jrvsilva@ufc.br 100319475328460016595 100319475328460016595 Yes Laboratory of Biotechnology and Physiology of Reproduction–LABIREP, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral, CE, Brazil