Protection against cisplatin-induced ovarian damage by the antioxidant sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (mesna) in female rats

OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis was that the administration of the antioxidant mesna (sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate) during chemotherapy would protect ovaries against follicular damage. STUDY DESIGN: Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with saline solution, mesna-plus-cisplatin, or cisplatin. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) positive follicles. Serum and ovarian MIS were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis, respectively. Apoptosis in ovaries was studied by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transfere biotin-d UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULT: Immunofluorescence staining for MIS was higher in preantral follicles in the mesna-plus-cisplatin group. The ovarian and serum MIS levels were higher in the mesna-plus-cisplatin than in the cisplatin alone group. There were no differences statistically in the TUNEL and the ovarian cyst analyses. CONCLUSION: Mesna, which was used at the time of cisplatin administration, protected ovaries against damage. The data that are presented challenge the existing clinical paradigm that gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists represent the only medical method for the protection of ovaries during chemotherapy. Alternative medical means to protect ovaries during chemotherapy may be achievable.