Treatment of rat uteruses with iloprost in experimental ischemia and reperfusion injury: animal experiment a study

Objectives: Uterine ischemia, often encountered in clinical settings, poses a significant risk during transplantation due to prolonged ischemic processes. This study aims to evaluate the potential efficacy of iloprost in reducing uterine ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Design: Experimental study. Setting: Adiyaman University Experimental Animal Production and Research Center. Population or Sample: Thirty-two 10-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 280–300 g, were divided into four groups: Sham, Ischemia (I), Ischemia-Reperfusion (I/R), and I/R + Iloprost. Methods: : The ischemia group underwent 3 hours of ischemia. The I/R group experienced 3 hours of ischemia followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. In the I/R + Iloprost group, iloprost was administered intravenously during the first hour of reperfusion. Histopathological and biochemical evaluations, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) analyses, were conducted. Main Outcome Measures: Histological examination and levels of oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH). Results: : Inflammation and vascular occlusion were severe in the ischemia group and moderate in the I/R group, whereas these were absent in the Sham and I/R + Iloprost groups. GSH levels decreased significantly in the I/R group, while MDA levels peaked in the ischemia group. Iloprost administration mitigated these changes. Conclusion: Iloprost demonstrates protective properties against I/R-induced tissue damage in rat uterine models, suggesting its potential clinical relevance in uterine transplantation. Keywords: ischemia-reperfusion injury, iloprost, uterine surgery, oxidative stress, rat model.