Protective Effect of Ethyl Pyruvate on Growth and Atresia of Ovarian Follicles in Cyclophosphamide Treated Mice

The oxidative stress caused by side effects of cyclophosphamide reduce fertility، and even cause infertility in people that treated with this drug. In this project، the protective role of ethyl pyruvate on ovarian follicles after chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide evaluated. In this experimental study، 15 female mice in age 8-9 weeks، divided into 3 groups. The control group، received normal saline (0. 1ml، IP/day)، Sham control group، received cyclophosphamide (15mg/kg،IP/week)، and the experimental group، along with cyclophosphamide treated with ethyl pyruvate (40mg/kg،IP/day). After the end of treatment in day 21، levels of the hormone of estradiol، and serum antioxidant enzymes، Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Total antioxidant (TAOC) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the left ovarian tissue was measured، and the right ovaries were used for histological and histomorphometrical studies. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software، and ANOVA and TUKEY test at the level of (p<0. 05) performed. Results in sham control group showed a significant reduction in mean distribution of growing ovarian follicles، corpus lutem، and amount of sex hormone and serum TAOC and SOD، and a notable increase of preantral atretic follicles، mast cells and level of MDA in comparison to control group (p<0. 05). The treatment with ethyl pyruvate possess a significant protective effect on aforementioned parameters in comparison to sham control group (p<0. 05). According to results of present study administration of ethyl pyruvate، along with chemotherapy was able to significantly prevent the adverse side effects of cyclophosphamide on ovarian tissue.