Effect of Formalin Exposure on Antral Follicle Development Disorders through Decreased Gonadotropin Hormone Regulation

Abstract

An excessive amount of formalin exposure might result in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress in the body, which lowers the body's ability to regulate the gonadotropin hormone and prevents ovulation from happening. The purpose of this work is to clarify how exposure to formalin alters the levels of GnRH, LHR, estradiol, and antral follicle growth in the ovaries of female mice (Mus musculus). This experimental research used a posttest only control group design. The research sample was 30 mice (Mus musculus). The samples were randomly allocated into three groups. Group 1 (K0) as control group without formalin administration, Group 2 (P1) as treatment 1, which was given formalin at a dose of 140 mg/kg body weight given in 0.1 ml/10 g body weight/day for 12 days, and Group 3 (P2) as tretment 2, which was given formalin at a dose of 210 mg/kg body weight given in 0.1 ml/10 g body weight/day for 12 days. Each group assessed GnRH levels using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method, examined LHR expression and estradiol expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC), and counted the number of antral follicles using hematoxylin-eosin (HE). The results of the statistical tests demonstrated a decrease in GnRH levels (p=0.001), a decrease in LHR expression (p=0.001), a decrease in Estradiol expression (0.001), and a reduction in the total number of antral follicles, specifically tertiary and de Graaf follicles (p=0.001). The findings demonstrate that female rats exposed to formalin have lower levels of GnRH, LHR, and antral ovarian follicles.