An experimental study on the use of lycopene to prevent infertility due to acute oxidative ovarian damage caused by a single high dose of methotrexate

Abstract

Background. Methotrexate (MTX) is an antineoplastic agent, which increases the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreases the level of antioxidants. Lycopene, is a potent antioxidant, which is used because of its protective effect against tissue damage.Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lycopene on ovarian MTX-induced injury in rats.Material and methods. Rats (n = 36) were randomly divided into 3 equal groups: a group with MTX only (MG, n = 12), a group with lycopene and MTX (LMG, n = 12), and a healthy control group (HCG, n = 12). Then, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and total glutathione (tGSH) levels and histopathological findings were examined in the ovaries of rats. Apart from the histopathological and biochemical evaluation, the reproductive performance of the experimental groups was also examined. Results.Our study demonstrated that, in ovarian tissues of rats administered MTX, there was a decrease in the levels of tGSH, while MDA and MPO were increased, but it is observed that these ratios are reversed in the LMG (p < 0.05). It also has been proven that a single, high-dose use of MTX causes infertility in female rats, prolongs the gestation period and reduces the number of offspring. Conclusions.Lycopene pretreatment ameliorates the MTX induced ovarian injury and infertility in rats through its antioxidative activities.

Resveratrol Siçanlarda Oksi̇dati̇f Stresi̇ Ve Apoptozu Baskilayarak Metotreksat Kaynakli Yumurtalik Hasarini Hafi̇fleti̇r

“…However, apoptosis and DNA damage were not evaluated in this study. In previous studies, protective effects of alpha lipoic acid and lycopene on MTX-induced ovarian damage have also been demonstrated (37,38). In another study, Chen et al (39) studied the ovaries of aging rats and suggested that RES increases the follicle reserve in this process and prevents atresia.…”

Effect of thymoquinone on cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative and inflammatory ovarian damage in rat

“…For this reason, MDA may cause exacerbation of LPO damage and further destruction (Suleyman and Ozcicek, 2019). In the studies conducted previously, it was observed that antioxidant levels decreased in ovarian tissue where MDA was increased (Turkler et al, 2020). Another study remarked that cyclophosphamide caused an increment in MDA levels and a reduction in antioxidants and had a toxic effect on the ovaries (Saleh and Mansour, 2016).…”

Lycopene: A Potent Antioxidant with Multiple Health Benefits

“…Dietary supplementation with lycopene at 20 mg per day for 3 months prior to the scheduled in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment increased the arachidonic acid to docosahexaenoic acid ratio in the seminal fluid and resulted in 7 natural pregnancies in addition to 15 pregnancies following the IVF procedure [ 51 ]. In methotrexate-induced ovarian damage, pretreatment with lycopene at 5 mg/kg body weight for 5 days prevented infertility and has shown to mediate increased GSH activity as well as decreased MDA and myeloperoxidase concentrations [ 211 ]. These findings suggest that lycopene alleviates imbalances in polyunsaturated fatty acids and can serve as a preventive agent against infertility.…”