The effects of antioxidant melatonin on rat ovary neonatal exposure to bisphenol A

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin on the rat ovary against to neonatal exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA). Material and Methods: In this study, 24 Wistar Albino female newborn rats were divided into four groups (n=6). Rats were injected with (sesame oil + ethanol) and (100 mg/kg) BPA by subcutaneously (sc) between postnatal days (PND0-PND10), in control and BPA groups, respectively. Melatonin group rats were injected daily with (10 mg/kg) melatonin (PND20-PND30) and BPA+melatonin group rats were injected daily with (100 mg/kg) BPA (PND0-PND10) and (10 mg/kg) melatonin (PND20-PND30). Histological and morphometric investigation were performed. Furthermore cell cycle marker Cdc-2 expression was evaluated by using IHC. Results: Histological findings showed that neonatal exposure to BPA results in degenerative alternations in ovary. It was found that there were no statistically significant changes in the body weight gains and in the average weights of ovarian tissue of rats between all groups. However, there was an increase in the average weights of ovarian tissue and body weight gain of rats from BPA administrated group. We also found that immunoreactivity of cdc-2 was lower in BPA group rats compared to others. Conclusion: It was concluded that neonatal exposure to BPA disrupts folliculogenesis that causes degenerative changes in ovarian follicles and melatonin may have positive effects on rat ovary damaged by BPA.