ABSTRACT
Abstract Purpose To investigate the protective effect of rosmarinic acid (RA) in ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury using biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical methods. Methods Wistar female rats (n = 32) were randomly divided into four groups: control, ischemia, ischemia-reperfusion, and ischemia-reperfusion with RA. Rosmarinic acid was given at a dose of 50 mg/kg by oral gavage three hours after reperfusion. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were determined in the ovary tissue homogenates for each rat. Results In the ischemia-reperfusion with RA group, the epithelial cells are regularly regulated at the periphery, and the degenerative changes in preantral and antral follicle cells are reduced. Follicle cells and cells in the corpus luteum showed a decrease in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, while VEGF demonstrated a positive reaction in vascular endothelial cells and stromal cells. The TNF-α expression due to the decreased degenerative effect and inflammation was positive in the macrophage cells. The expression of caspase-3 as an apoptosis change was negative in antral follicle cells and granular cells around the antral follicle. Conclusion Different doses of RA may be useful in preventing ischemic damage after vascularization, inflammation, and apoptotic development after ischemia/reperfusion.