Cilostazol protects against cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian toxicity in female rats: role of cAMP and HO-1

Purpose:Cancer rates have been increased among women of reproductive age nowadays. Hence, many young female will be exposed to chemotherapeutic agents as cyclophosphamide (CP), carrying the hazards on female fertility. Cilostazol is a selective phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor drug which exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities. We aimed in this study to explore the possible protective effects of cilostazol against CP-induced ovarian damage in female rats. Methods:Cilostazol (10 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 10 days in presence and absence of CP (150 mg/kg IP single dose) treatment. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen (E2), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels were determined. Ovarian oxidative stress parameters along with inflammatory biomarkers were measured. 3,5-Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) ovarian level was detected. Ovarian histopathological examination and caspase-3 immunohistochemical study were evaluated. Results:CP-treated rats showed a significant increase in serum levels of FSH and LH with decreased serum E2 and AMH levels with an increase in the ovarian inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers besides a significant decrease in cAMP ovarian level with an evident histopathological picture of ovarian damage and a high caspase-3 immunoexpression. Cilostazol pretreatment significantly restored the distributed hormonal levels, the oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers to their normal levels with marked improvement in histopathological picture of ovarian damage with a significant decrease in caspase-3 immunoexpression. Conclusions:These data suggest that cilostazol protects against CP- induced ovarian damage, which may be related to an increase in cAMP with subsequent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties.