Eur J Anat, 24 (5): 333-342 (2020)

Can the red clover combat the effect of the furan; as an endocrine Disruptor; on the ovary of albino rat?

Rasha M. Salama, Noha M. Issa

Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt

ABSTRACT Furan is an endocrine-disruptive chemical formed as a result of foods heat treatment as cof-fee, jarred and canned foods. It induces harmful effects on organisms. This study was intended to evaluate the effect of furan exposure on ovary, as a new rat polycystic ovary model (PCO), and the possible anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and es-trogenic effects of red clover (RC) dry extracts on it. Sixty adult female rats were divided into five groups (Control, RC, Furan, Protected and Treated groups). At the end of the experiment, Ovarian tissues were taken for histological (Hx & E and Picro â?? Sirius red stains), immunohistochemical (Bcl2, Er-β & COX-2 immunoexpression), statisti-cal & morphometrical studies. The ovarian sec-tions of Furan group showed significant decrease in the number of the follicles and corpora lutea, follicular degeneration as well as many cysts and significant increased deposition of collagen fibers between the theca cells extending to the medulla. Bcl-2 and Er-β immunoexpression were signifi-cantly decreased. However, the surface area per-centage of COX-2 immunostain was significantly increased as compared to the control. The ovarian sections of the protected and treated groups with RC showed improvement in the histological andimmunohistochemical alterations of furan induced ovarian injury. However, the treated group is signi-ficantly different from the protected group. It could be concluded that RC is more effective as a pro-tected than treated agent against ovarian injury induced by furan.

Keywords: Furan â?? Red Clover â?? Polycystic Ovary â?? Bcl2 â?? Er-β â?? COX-2