The role of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in the protective effects of vigabatrin against ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model

Background: Exposure of ovarian tissue to ischaemia and subsequent reperfusion can result in oxidative and inflammatory damage. A decline in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels has the potential to initiate pathological processes and compromise antioxidant defence mechanisms. Vigabatrin, an antiepileptic agent, has been shown to increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA has the potential to increase ATP levels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the preventive effects of vigabatrin concerning ovarian ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods: The experiment comprised the allocation of thirty female Wistar albino rats into five groups: a sham operation group (SOG), a vigabatrin group (VIG), an ovarian I/R group (OIR), a vigabatrin + sham operation group (VISO), and a vigabatrin + ovarian I/R group (VOIR). Surgical procedures were performed under anesthesia. The VIG and VOIR were given vigabatrin (50 mg/kg, orally). Following a period of anticipation spanning an hour, the ovaries of the SOG, OIR, and VOIR rats were accessed via an abdominal incision. The incision site was sutured without the performance of an I/R procedure on the SOG ovaries. In the OIR and VOIR, the right ovaries were subjected to three hours of ischemia, followed by six days of reperfusion. Drug treatment was administered once a day using the same method for six days. Then, the rats were euthanised with 120 mg/kg ketamine (intraperitoneally). The ovarian tissues were removed. These samples were examined for oxidants, antioxidants, and proinflammatory cytokines. Results: The I/R procedure caused an increase in malondialdehyde, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1β, and interleukin 6 levels, as well as a diminish in total glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the ovaries, compared to the SOG (p < 0.001). Moreover, in the present study, I/R was found to result in changes in follicle numbers, as well as congestion, dilatation of the vessels, edema, and an increase in inflammatory cells (p < 0.05). In comparison with OIR, VOIR demonstrated a decline in oxidants and proinflammatory cytokines, an augmentation in antioxidants, and a reduction in histopathological damage(p < 0.05). Conclusion: It is proposed that vigabatrin may represent a novel strategy for the prevention of ovarian injury associated with I/R. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. © The Author(s) 2025.