Alterations of VEGF Expression and Ovarian Follicles in Doxorubicin Treated Rats: Role of Curcumin Selenium Nanoparticles

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of synthesized curcumin-selenium nanoparticles (CurSeNPs) by combining sodium hydrogen selenite with a hydroalcoholic extract obtained from Curcuma longa rhizomes in alleviating the disturbance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression, histomorphometric and histological alterations of ovaries in healthy rats that administered doxorubicin.Thirty-two fully grown female rats were randomly divided into four equal groups and were treated for two weeks as follows: The control group (C) of rats were administered distilled water orally; Group G1: Rats in the this group had injected intraperitoneal of doxorubicin (4.40mg/kg B.W), (Group 2): Rats were intraperitoneally injected with CurSeNPs ( 10.47 μg/kg B.W.), in contrast, both Doxorubicin and CurSeNPs were administered to Group 3 at the same doses. Ovarian tissue specimens have been taken to determine the level of ovarian VEGF mRNA gene expression, as well as for a histological study. The results showed a significant rise in VEGF gene expression levels, as well as the presence of histological alterations in the G1 group characterized by clear congestion of graffiti follicles and necrotic lesions. with decrease in the number of primary, secondry and graafian follicles as compared to other groups. Nevertheless, current results indicated that the administration of CurSeNPs with or without doxorubicin in the G2 and G3 groups revealed a decrease in the expression of the VEGF gene and an improvement in the inflammatory lesions of ovaries.The current study has demonstrated that CurSeNPs exhibit preventive effects against doxorubicin toxic effects in healthy adult female rats, which may be due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities.