Protective effect of alpha lipoic acid on 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide induced primary ovarian failure in female rats

The effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and its possible mechanisms in treating Primary ovarian failure (POF) model was studied with 4 vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD). Rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 7) as Control, VCD, VCD + ALA and ALA. POF model was induced by applying VCD intraperitoneally and ALA was administered by oral gavage as 100 mg/day to the VCD + ALA and ALA groups. At the end of 42 days, ovarian and uterine tissues were received. The number of primordial and primary follicles were increased and corpus luteum and cystic follicles were decreased in ovarian tissues in VCD + ALA group compared to VCD group. Caspase-3 immunoreactivity in follicular cells was decreased in VCD + ALA group compared to VCD group. eNOS immunoreactivity and eNOS levels were decreased in VCD group and increased in VCD + ALA group while iNOS immunoreactivity and iNOS levels were increased in VCD group, decreased in VCD + ALA group in ovary and uterine tissue. Plasma FSH and LH hormone levels were increased in the VCD but decreased in VCD + ALA group. Estradiol level decreased in the VCD group compared to the other groups. The MDA values were significantly increased in the VCD + ALA group compared to VCD group. In addition, the levels of GSH values were decreased in VCD + ALA group compared to VCD group. Alpha lipoic acid treatment of rats with VCD-induced POF had a beneficial effect on reducing ovarian damage by improving histological, immunohistochemical, hormone level and oxidative stress markers. Our results show that ALA is an effective treatment of VCD-induced POF rats.