The effects of propolis extract on ovarian tissue and oxidative stress in rats with maternal separation stress

Stress in infancy has dramatic effects on different systems, including the nervous system, endocrine, immune, reproductive and etc. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of extract of Iranian propolis (EIP) on ovarian tissue and oxidative stress in rats with maternal separation stress. 48 immature female rats were divided randomly into six groups. 1) Control group, 2) Control group+saline, 3) Stress group, includes infants that were separated from their mothers 6 hr/day, the 4 , 5 and 6 groups consisted of infants who in addition to daily stress received 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of EIP, respectively. Then serum corticosterone, 17-beta-estradiol, malondialdehyde, total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and ferric reducing antioxidant power levels were measured. The ovarian sections were stained by H&E, PAS, and TUNEL methods and were studied with optical microscopy. Stress increased the blood serum corticosterone levels and 17-beta-estradiol reduced significantly (p