Protective effects of erythropoietin on ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat ovary.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) as an antioxidant and tissue protective agent and study the biochemical and histopathological changes in experimental ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat ovaries.

Study Design: 36 Adult female rats were used. The experimental groups were designed as Group 1: sham operation; Group 2: bilateral ovarian ischemia; and Group 3: 3 h period of ischemia followed by 3 h reperfusion.