Effect of vitamin D on ovarian tissues of rats administered trichlorethylene

Trichlorethylene (TCE) is a chlorinated hydrocarbone and human beings are heavily exposed as an environmental pollutant due to its widespread usage. Many studies done by TCE showed its toxic effects on liver, kidney and ovarian tissues. Vitamin D is a hormone or hormone precursor, rather than being a vitamin.In many studies, antioksidant effects of vitamin D is observed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin D on ovarian tissue of rats exposed to TCE. In this study, 24 female 8-10 weeks old Wistar-Albino rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was the control group and nothing was given during the 3 weeks test period. Group 2 was given TCE (1000 mg/kg/day given) by oral gavage. Group 3 received TCE (1000 mg/kg/day)+Vitamin D (50IU/day ) orally and Group 4 constituted the group of rats receiving only Vitamin D (50IU/day) orally. After the experimental period the rats were decapitated under anesthesia and the ovarian tissues were removed. Tissues were embedded into paraffin blocks by routine procedures for histologic evoluation. The sections taken from the blocks were stained with avidin-biotin-peroxidase method for Malondialdehyde (MDA) immunoreactivity and by Masson's trichrome for histopathological changes. Malondialdehyde immunoreactivities were similar in the control and vitamin D group. Compared with the control and TCE group, there was a significant increase in TCE group. Compared with TCE group, TCE+vit D group revealed a significant decrease. The results of histological examination was as follows; Compared with the control group, TCE group showed significant decrease in the corpus luteum angiogenesis, germinal epithelium degeneration, decrease in ovarian follicle reserve and follicle degeneration. Compared with TCE group, follicule degeneration and a significant improvement in the germinal epithelium was observed in TCE+Vit D group. As a result, it is shown that TCE increases MDA and causes histopathologic changes in the ovarian tissue. Application of vitamin D reduces MDA and these histologic changes. New studies are needed before its usage in the clinics. Keywords: Trichloroethylene, Ovary, Vitamin D