Abstract
This study was conducted to qualify the ameliorating potency of silymarin against toxicity in ethidium bromide (EtBr) treated female rats. Eighty female Wistar rats aged 100 days, weighted 170-175 g were randomly allocated to control, orally supplemented with drinking water, and three treated groups, orally supplemented with silymarin 200 mg/kg BW, EtBr 10 mg/kg BW, and combination of EtBr and silymarin (SEtBr), respectively. Each group was allocated to two subgroups, sacrificed after 20 and 40 days of treatment. Bodyweight gain, uteri, and ovaries weight were recorded. Ovarian samples were obtained for histopathological examination. EtBr group females recorded the lowest body weight gain, relative weights of ovaries and uteri, and ovarian follicle number, whereas S group females recorded the highest body weight gain and follicular number, while the ovaries and uteri weights were either higher or close to the control group, at both experimental periods. Histopathological findings of both periods revealed necrosis, cirrhosis, ischemia, and prominent hemorrhage in the blood capillaries in EtBr treated ovarian tissues, but many of the ovarian follicles being mature and the atretic follicles were hence found to be high in number, whereas silymarin treated females showed normal ovarian tissues and viable ovarian follicles as that in control females. The combination-treated females, at 20 days, revealed necrotic primary ovarian follicles with some macrophages infiltration, whereas 40 days’ period showed normal ovarian cortex, medulla, and ovarian follicles. In conclusion, silymarin treatment in combination with EtBr has a potent amelioration effect against ovarian toxicity, in a duration-dependent manner.
Highlights
The ovary is a major reproductive gonad that functions as an endocrine gland in addition to being exocrine gland
The finding stated in table 1 represent significant (P≤0.05) upsurge of body weight gain in control, S and SEtBr groups started at 20 d. and continued at 40 d., whereas ethidium bromide (EtBr) treated group recorded insignificant (P≥0.05) changes among treatment periods
Graffian follicles The result of the Graffian follicle number, clarified in table 3, revealed elevation (P≤0.05) in silymarin treated females and decline (P≤0.05) in EtBr treated females in comparison with control females, at both experimental periods, whereas a combination treatment (SEtBr) revealed insignificant (P≥0.05) changes compared with control
Summary
The ovary is a major reproductive gonad that functions as an endocrine gland in addition to being exocrine gland. Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) is considered as one of the toxicant sources in the laboratories, acts as an intercalating agent and is broadly used as a stain and a nonradioactive marker in molecular biology laboratory techniques (2). It has been used in treatment of trypanosomiasis in cattle (3). According to Environmental Health and Safety, EtBr is considered as a potent mutagen, where it acts by intercalating the double stranded DNA and deforms its structure, which inhibits DNA duplication and interrupts protein biosynthesis by inhibiting mitochondrial-associated RNA. The main flavonoid and active ingredient of Silybum marianum (milk thistle) fruit and seeds, is considered as a natural antioxidant, which has been commonly used as a phytotherapy for several medicinal applications such as liver disorders (5)
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