Protective and Curative Roles of Vitamin C Against Formaldehyde Toxicity in Female Albino Mice Reproductive Syste

Abstract

Infertility refer to the biological inability of an individual to contribute to conception, or to a female who cannot carry
a pregnancy to full term. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods; it is a highly
effective antioxidant and used in preventing and treating many diseases. Formaldehyde is an organic compound, and
it is used as a chemical intermediate, disinfectants, fumigants, photography, and wood preservation.
The aim of this study is to investigate the protective and curative roles of antioxidants as Vitamin C toward
formaldehyde induce damage in female reproductive system.
Female mice (n=50, 25-30 gm) were divided into 5 groups: group I (control) administered normal saline (5 ml/kg) for
5 days, group II received formaldehyde (30 mg/kg) for 5 days, group III received Vitamin C (250 mg/kg) for 5 days,
group IV administered formaldehyde and Vitamin C (prophylactic) for 5 days, group V received formaldehyde for
5 days followed by Vitamin C for another 5 days (curative). At the end of 21 days, animals were sacrificed, ovaries
and uterus were removed and fixed in 10% formalin solution for routine histological techniques. Intraperitoneal
administration was used in this study.
It was found that formaldehyde cause reduction in ovulation process and damage in lining endometrial epithelial.
Administration of Vitamin C only increase in ovulation process and showed normal tunica albuginea and produce
hyper stimulation for blood vessels and uterine epithelial. Vitamin C administration for treatment or prophylaxis
repair the damage induced by formaldehyde and improve the ovary and uterus to nearly healthy condition. The treated
group with Vitamin C showed more repair and improvement compared to the prophylaxis group.
Formaldehyde induce histological alteration in ovary and uterus of female mice and in turn, Vitamin C has a
prophylaxis and treatment role against the damage induced in female mice. It is recommended for the future work, to
find the protective role of Vitamin C against formaldehyde induce damage in fetus and offspring