Ehsanollah Sakhaee - Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran
Homayoon Babaei - Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran
Jalil Abshenas - Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran
Omid Azari - Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran
Reza Kheirandish - Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran
Farideh Ebrahimi-Meymand - Graduated from School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran

In this study we investigated histopathological changes of mice ovarian tissues following long-term administration of copper sulfate and induction of chronic copper poisoning. The study comprised of three different groups of twenty one mice as follows: The first group (Group ۱۰۰) which treated by gavage with copper sulfate at a dose of ۱۰۰ mg kg-۱ for ۵ weeks. The second group (Group ۲۰۰), which received ۲۰۰ mg kg-۱ copper sulfate by gavage during experimental period (۳۵ days), and control animals (Group C), which received the same volume of distilled water in the same way. The blood samples were obtained from ۷ cases out of ۲۱ animals of each group by cardiac puncture at the end of first, third and fifth week. Ovarian lesions were observed in group ۱۰۰ after ۳۵th day and in group ۲۰۰ after ۲۱st day. The histopathologic examination revealed widespread ovarian follicle atresia in group ۲۰۰ after ۳۵th day Atretic follicles had numerous cell debris and inflammatory cells in the antral cavity. In degenerative antral follicles granulose cells degenerated and desquamated into antrum. In some degenerative antral follicles infiltration of inflammatory cells into granulose cell layer and antrum were observed. The histopathlogic data indicate the possibility of adverse effect of copper poisoning on the mice ovarian tissue. Copper might be mediator of the effect of oxidative damage and play an essential role in reproductive system.

Copper poisoning, Ovary, Histopathology, Mice