Resveratrol alleviates doxorubicin-induced damage in mice ovary

Abstract

While oocytes and embryos cryopreservation can favor some patients with cancer-induced infertility to achieve pregnancy, the development of effective therapeutic strategies to preserve ovarian function during chemotherapy would be a significant advantage. The aim of the present study is to analyze whether Resveratrol treatment (Res) can preserve ovarian function from doxorubicin (Doxo)-induced gonadotoxicity using a mice model of premature ovarian failure. Res (7 and 15 mg/kg) increased the percentage of primary and antral follicles whilst decreasing the percentage of atretic follicles compared to Doxo alone. Res preserved the number of primordial follicles compared with those in the Doxo group but they did not change from those in the control group. Res treatment increased the number of AMH positive follicles compared to Doxo alone. Res increased proliferation index in follicular cells and reduced the DNA damage and apoptosis in preantral and early antral follicles compared to Doxo alone. Additionally, Doxo administration caused a severe endothelial damage and affected microvasculature stability in the ovary. However, Res was able to increase the recruitment of pericytes and smooth muscle cells in the Doxo-treated group. We also found that Res increased the expression of VEGF compared to Doxo alone. By H&E staining, Doxo-treated mice demonstrated endometrial alterations compared to controls, affecting both epithelial and stromal compartments. Nonetheless, Res restored the architecture of uterine tissue. Moreover, we also showed that Res administration is able to maintain antioxidant defenses through the increase of SOD expression in the Doxo-induced POF model. In conclusion, Res administration prior to and during Doxo treatment might serve as a noninvasive and low-cost protocol to preserve ovarian function in female cancer survivors.