The effect of rhodiola rosea root extract on stress-induced ovarian damage, infertility and reproductive disorders in female rats

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the possible effect of Rhodiola rosea root extract (RRE) on ovarian damage, infertility (IF), delay in conception (DC), decrease in the number of offspring (NO) in female rats that have been stressed with compulsory immobilization method (CIM) and on retardation of intrauterine physical development (IPD) in offspring. Materials and methods: Female Albino Wistar rats were divided like: healthy (HG), stress-induced control (SC), and stress + 50 mg/kg RRE (S + REG) groups including sixteen rats in each group. Six rats from each group were killed for conducting biochemical and histopathological examinations in ovarian tissues and others were observed for IF, DC, NO, and IPD. Results: It was found that RRE significantly prevented the increase in oxidative parameters and proinflammatory cytokine levels in ovarian tissue of animals stressed with CIM. RRE suppressed the increase in IF rate and DC whereas caused a decrease in NO and in IPD retardation. Conclusion: These results suggested RRE may have beneficial effects in the treatment of stress induced reproductive dysfunction. Content: The effect of RRE on oxidative and inflammatory changes in ovarian tissue and reproductive changes of animals exposed to stress with compulsory immobilization method.

Stress-associated ovarian damage, infertility, and delay in achieving pregnancy and treatment options.

“…It was revealed in the study of Kadioglu et al that the stress induced by the forced immobilization method causes widespread congestion, hemorrhage, accumulation of fluid, and inflammatory infiltration in the subcapsular area in the ovaries. Infertility, delay in achieving pregnancy, decrease in the number of offspring, and intrauterine physical developmental retardation were found in the animal group with these histopathological signs 9 . The stress induced by the FIM has led to oxidative and inflammatory damage in the ovarian tissue of animals, sterility, and delay in achieving pregnancy.…”

“…It is known that pro-inflammatory cytokine production plays a role in parallel with excessive oxidant production in the pathogenesis of ovarian damage, infertility, and delay in achieving pregnancy that develops due to stress and other factors 9,24 . Our results, accordingly, showed that TNF-α, L-1β and IL-6 levels increased in the ovarian tissue of animals with infertility and delay in achieving pregnancy.…”

“…Degeneration, infiltration, and histopathological damage , such as atretic follicles, are seen in response to stress in rat ovaries 8 . Kadioglu et al revealed that stress, which leads to infertility, increases total oxidant levels and decreases antioxidant levels in rat ovarian tissue 9 . This literature recommends that drugs with antioxidant, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic effects may be beneficial in treating stress-related ovarian damage and reproductive dysfunction.…”

“…Cerebrolysin is another drug we would like to see for its effects on stress-related ovarian damage, infertility, and preventing delay in maternity. Cerebrolysin is a porcine brain-derived drug with neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects and contains low molecular weight peptides and amino acids 9 . It has been defended that the antidepressant effect of cerebrolysin is based on its reducing oxidative stress and cytokine-related inflammation 14 .…”