Investigation of the effects of antioxidants used in the experimental model of premature ovarian failure on mitophagy proteins and their related microRNAs

We studied the changes in parkin-dependent and independent mechanisms that occur with quercetin and curcumin; It was aimed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of quercetin and curcumin in premature ovarian failure by examining follicle count, immunohistochemical proteins, mRNAs and related microRNAs. In our study, an experimental premature ovarian failure model was created on rats by means of cyclophosphamide. Then the tissues were examined by histopathological methods and histochemical staining. RNA isolation was performed on ovarian samples and cDNA synthesis and qPCR processes were performed. The difference between the obtained findings and the groups was evaluated statistically. Cyclophosphamide depleted primordial follicles, which is the main pool for fertility, on ovarian tissue and induced atresia. Curcumin and quercetin acted on parkin-dependent pathways, resulting in significant improvement in the ovarian follicle pool. The significant increase in the primordial follicle pool and the decrease in the rate of atretic follicles observed in the groups given curcumin and quercetin indicate that curcumin and quercetin have protective and therapeutic roles in the pathogenesis of POF by regulating mitophagy in the parkin-mediated pathway on the ovary.