PROGESTERONE INCREASES THE ISCHEMIC DAMAGE IN MALE RATS WITH CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA REPERFUSION INJURY

Objective: In the current literature, there are few accepted pharmacological treatment methods for acute ischemic stroke. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of progesterone on transient ischemia / reperfusion injury in male rats. Material and Methods: A total of 25 Wistar albino male and young rats were divided into 5 groups called Control group, acute stage groups (Sham-A and PRG-A), and chronic stage groups (Sham-C and PRG-C), randomly and their internal carotid arteries were compressed using temporary aneurysm clips for 30 minutes. At 4 hours after removal of the clips, progesterone was injected to the animals of the PRG-A and PRG-C group via intraperitoneal route. After sacrifice of all animals, pyknotic and necrotic neuronal cells were counted in hippocampal cornu amnonis (CA)1, CA2, CA3 and parietal cortical regions, histopathologically. Tissue interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, caspase-3, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF1) gene expression levels were evaluated using real time polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: Histopathological and biochemical findings revealed that progesterone has no healing effects on ischaemic neuronal tissue damage in either acute or chronic period. Moreover, progesterone was found to significantly increase symptoms of ischaemia in both acute and chronic periods compared to healthy control group and even compared to Sham groups where I/R injury was applied and no experimental agent was administered. Conclusion: At the end of this study, it was thought that progesterone had no therapeutic effect on cerebral ischemia / reperfusion injury in male sex rats and it could lead to increase it further, unfortunately