Tissue damage in rat ovaries subjected to torsion and detorsion: effects of l-carnitine and N-acetyl cysteine

We aimed to evaluate histopathological changes, to detect HIF-1α staining intensities and to determine MDA levels in rat ovaries, which were subjected to torsion and detorsion and treated with l -carnitine or N -acetyl cysteine (NAC). Forty-eight prepubertal female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups ( n = 8): 1, control; 2, ischemia; 3, reperfusion; 4, l -carnitine; and 5, NAC groups. In groups 3, 4 and 5, an ischemic period of 3 h was followed by reperfusion for 24 h. In groups 4 and 5, ischemia was performed and either l -carnitine or NAC was infused intraperitoneally 30 min before reperfusion. Ovarian tissues were examined histopathologically; tissue MDA levels and serum IL-6 levels were determined biochemically. HIF-1α was applied to all ovaries immunohistochemically. Total tissue damage scores, tissue MDA levels and HIF-1α scores, were significantly higher in group 2 (all P