The Effect of Curcumin on the Structure of Mouse Ovary After Treatment With Goserelin and Cyclophosphamide

BACKGROUND: Protection from reproductive damage is essential in chemotherapy medicines for cancer patients.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the effect of curcumin on the structure of the ovary of mice after treatment with goserelin and cyclophosphamide.METHODS: One hundred and ten BALB/C mice with 3 regular consecutive periods of the estrous cycle were divided into 11 groups of 10 each. No medicine was used in the control group. The treatment groups were as follows: 1) cyclophosphamide, 2 to 5) cyclophosphamide with curcumin with a dose of 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg, respectively, 6) goserelin, 7 to 10) goserelin together with curcumin with a dose 100, 200, 300, 400 mg/kg, respectively. The luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) of serums were evaluated using ELISA. Morphologic and morphometric of ovaries were assessed.RESULTS: The total number of follicles, primary, secondary, periantral, and antral follicles, in the goserelin and cyclophosphamide group, was significantly reduced compared with the control group (P<0.05). Cyclophosphamide and goserelin with different doses of curcumin showed a significant increase in the total number of follicles, primary, periantral, and antral follicles compared to the group treated with cyclophosphamide and goserelin alone (P<0.05). Curcumin (200, 300, and 400 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide, compared to the cyclophosphamide group, significantly increased the quality of zona pellucida (P<0.05). Cyclophosphamide and goserelin caused a significant decrease in FSH and LH (P<0.05). Cyclophosphamide with different doses of curcumin showed a significant increase in LH compared to the group treated with cyclophosphamide alone (P<0.05). Goserelin with a 400 mg/kg curcumin dose significantly increased LH compared to goserelin alone (P<0.05). The amount of FSH in the cyclophosphamide groups with curcumin increased compared considerably to cyclophosphamide alone (P<0.05). The groups of goserelin with curcumin showed a significant increase in FSH compared to those of goserelin alone (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin can protect the reproductive system of mice from the damage caused by the administration of cyclophosphamide and goserelin.