Comparative effects of garlic (Allium sativum) powder and atorvastatin in female reproductive system ofhypercholesterolemic rats: A histological and biochemical evaluation

Background and aims: The abnormal increase in blood cholesterol can cause many problems. Statins have a cholesterol-lowering effect, butthey also have adverse effects. Garlic prevents the formation of cholesterol due to its antibiotic properties. This study aimed to investigatethe comparative effect of garlic powder and atorvastatin on hypercholesterolemia-induced reproductive failure in female rats.Methods: In the present experimental study, ۴۸ adult female Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n=۶), including control, atorvastatin(۱۰ mg/kg/d; orally), atorvastatin (۲۰ mg/kg/d; orally), garlic powder (۱۰۰ mg/kg/d; orally), hypercholesterolemia (۱.۵ mg/kg/d of cholesterol;orally), hypercholesterolemia + atorvastatin (۱۰ mg/kg/d), hypercholesterolemia + atorvastatin (۲۰ mg/kg/d), and hypercholesterolemia +garlic powder. After ۳۰ days, rats were euthanized and blood samples were obtained from their heart for serological assessments. The rightovary was transferred to ۱۰% formalin for histological analyses, and the left ovary was transferred to a −۸۰°C freezer for evaluation ofoxidative stress markers. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s test using SPSS version ۲۴.۰ (P < ۰.۰۵).Results: The number of healthy primordial, primary, secondary, and antral follicles, catalase activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAOC)as well as estrogen and progesterone levels were lower in hypercholesterolemic rats compared to controls (P < ۰.۰۰۱). Additionally, thenumber of the atretic primary, secondary, and antral follicles and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were higher in hypercholesterolemic rats(P < ۰.۰۰۱). However, garlic powder and atorvastatin ۱۰ improved alterations in the mentioned parameters (P = ۰.۹۹).Conclusion: The results showed that hypercholesterolemia could have adverse effects on rat ovaries. However, the garlic powder improvesovarian toxicity in hypercholesterolemia rats better than atorvastatin.

Keywords:

Atorvastatin , Garlic , Hypercholesterolemia , Rat , Ovary