Evaluation of the protective effects of green tea for ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat ovary tissue: an experimental study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effects of green tea extract on ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model using histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. METHODS: Twenty-one female Wistar-Albino rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 7 each): sham, saline-treated ischemia-reperfusion, and green tea extract-treated ischemia-reperfusion. Ovarian torsion was induced by 720° clockwise rotation of the adnexa for three hours, followed by three hours of reperfusion. Green tea extract (200 mg/kg) or saline was administered intraperitoneally immediately before reperfusion. Ovarian tissues were evaluated histopathologically for congestion, hemorrhage, edema, polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration, and follicular degeneration. Bax and caspase-3 expression levels were assessed immunohistochemically. RESULTS: The saline group demonstrated significantly increased congestion, edema, follicular degeneration, and total injury scores compared with the sham group. Green tea extract administration significantly reduced congestion, edema, and follicular degeneration compared with the saline group, indicating partial histopathological protection against ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, Bax and caspase immunoreactivity remained elevated in the treatment group. CONCLUSION: Green tea extract attenuated histopathological ovarian damage following ischemia-reperfusion injury, suggesting a protective effect against ovarian tissue injury. Although treatment was associated with increased expression of apoptotic markers, the overall findings support the potential of green tea-derived antioxidants as a therapeutic strategy for ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury.