Benzene exposure causes structural and functional damage in rat ovaries: occurrence of apoptosis and autophagy.

Studies to date have provided evidence for damage that can occur from hydrocarbon benzene on different tissues/organs. However, little is known regarding the possible influence of this hydrocarbon on female reproduction. In this study, female Wistar rats were treated with low (2000 ppm), middle (4000 ppm), and high (8000 ppm) doses of benzene by inhalation for 30 min daily for 28 days. Benzene exposure adversely affected ovarian function and structure by inducing histopathological changes and altering reproductive steroid hormone release. In addition, benzene-exposed ovaries exhibited increased TMR red fluorescent signals at middle and high doses, revealing significant apoptosis. Interestingly, the investigation of the autophagic protein marker LC3 showed that this protein significantly increased in all benzene-treated ovaries, indicating the occurrence of autophagy. Moreover, ovaries from benzene-treated groups exhibited differential regulation of several specific genes involved in ovarian folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis, including the INSL3, CCND1, IGF-1, CYP17a, LHR, ATG5, and GDF9 genes.