EFFECT OF ASCORBIC-ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ON OVARIAN DELTA(5)-3-BETA AND 17-BETA-HYDROXYSTEROID-DEHYDROGENASE AND OVARIAN CHOLESTEROL IN CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE-TREATED ALBINO RATS

We have studied the effect of ascorbic acid supplementation in cycloph osphamide-treated mature albino rats on ovarian weight, uterine weight , ovarian Delta(5)-3 beta and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase act ivities and ovarian cholesterol level. Oral administration of cyclopho sphamide at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight/day for 12 days or three oes trous cycles resulted in significant inhibition of ovarian steroidogen ic enzyme activities and an elevation of ovarian cholesterol levels, w ith significant reductions in uterine and ovarian weights. Oral supple mentation with ascorbic acid at 250 mg/kg body weight/day protected si gnificantly the ovarian steroidogenic enzyme activity and restored ova rian cholesterol levels to control values. In the cyclophosphamide-tre ated group, there was a significant alteration in the duration of oest rous cycle and persistent diestrus was also noted from the 9th day of treatment. Ascorbic acid supplementation restored the normal oestrous cycles. We conclude that ascorbic acid can markedly protect ovarian st eroidogenic function after cyclophosphamide treatment in rats. Med Sci Res 26:517-519 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.