Modulation in Reproductive Tissue Redox Profile in Sexually Receptive Female Rats after Short-Term Exposure to Male Chemical Cues

It is well known that antioxidants play an important role in sperm fertility, but there is no data on the literature regarding the effect of male chemical cues in the antioxidant defenses of the female reproductive tract. Here, we evaluated oxidative parameters in ovaries and uterus of virgin female rats isolated from contact to males and exposed only to male-soiled bedding (MSB). Four-month-old Wistar (regular 4-day cyclic) virgin female rats were utilized from proestrus to estrus phase of the reproductive cycle for experimental exposure. In an isolated room, female rats were exposed for 90 min to MSB. For biochemical assays, female rats were killed by decapitation at 30, 90, 180, and 240 min after the end of exposure, and the ovaries and uterus were removed for further analysis. Antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase), the nonenzymatic antioxidant potential (total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter), and the oxidative damage parameters (thiobarbituric acid–reactive species and carbonyl content) were analyzed. We observed an increase in the nonenzymatic antioxidant potential and diminished free radical oxidative damage in uterine tissue, 30 and 90 min after exposure. Furthermore, in ovaries, enzymatic defenses were modulated distinctly along the 240 min after exposure. MSB exposure modulates the antioxidant profile in ovaries and uterus of receptive female rats. It is possible that the modifications in the oxidative profile of the female genital tract may have important implications in the process of fertilization.