The protective effects of melatonin agonist on radiotherapy-induced ovarian function damage in rats / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Objective The radiotherapy is one of main treatments for patients with malignant tumor and leads to ovarian func-tion decreasing in young women .It is very important to protect ovarian function during the process of radiotherapy .The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of melatonin ( MT) agonist on radiotherapy-induced ovarian function damage in female rats . Methods Thirty SD rats were divided into five groups randomly , which received normal saline, 200 cGy radiotherapy+normal saline, 200 cGy radiotherapy+MT(25 mg/kg), 200 cGy radiotherapy+MT(50 mg/kg), and 200 cGy radiotherapy +MT(100 mg/kg), respectively.All rats were de-capitated two weeks after radiotherapy .Levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were measured by en-zyme-linked immune sorbent assay method;the number of the primordial follicles , the growth follicles and the mature follicle were ob-served;Caspase3 activity was assayed by spectrophotometry . Results In accordance with the normal control group , RT+MT (100 mg/kg) group, RT+MT (50 mg/kg) group,RT group , serum E2 levels decreased, respectively (6.68 ±0.48, 5.73 ±1.36, 4.26 ±0.44, 2.83 ±0.51)pmol/L;FSH levels increased, respectively (0.340 ±0.011, 0.431 ±0.053, 0.479 ±0.023, 0.604 ± 0.028)ng/mL ;the total number of follicles decreased ,respectively (21.67 ±1.97, 18.00 ±2.28, 15.50 ±1.05, 11.50 ±2.43);Caspase3 activity increased,respectively (0.14 ±0.03, 0.26 ±0.06, 0.36 ±0.05, 0.50 ±0.05).Except FSH had no significant difference between RT +MT(50 mg/kg)group and RT+MT(100 mg/kg) group(P>0.05), the rest indexes had significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion MT can diminish radiotherapy-induced ovarian damage in female rats, it may be related to the mechanism that MT inhibits the radiotherapy-induced activation of Caspase 3.