Amirhossein Mohammadi - Department of Anatomy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Bagher Minaei Zangi - Department of Anatomy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahshid Delfan Azari - Department of Radiology, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Rafieh Alizadeh - ENT and Head & Neck Research Center and Department, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Salehi - Department of Biotechnology, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Erfan Daneshi - Department of Anatomy, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Mohammad Jafar Rezaei - Department of Anatomy, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Mehdi Abbasi - Department of Anatomy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Objective(s): We intended to determine whether the ovarian varicose which is one of the common etiologies of the pelvic congestion syndrome, has the ability to interfere with the DNA methylation reprogramming in the oocyte and thereby affect the oocyte quality or not. Materials and Methods: Varicose model was induced according to the Turner’s method in the rats. Briefly, a ۲۰-gauge needle was placed on the left renal vein and a thread was tied over both the needle and the renal vein medial to the insertion of the ovarian vein, and then the needle was removed. Evaluation of prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) was assessed using specific kits and the expression level of the DNA methyltransferase genes Dnmt۱, Dnmt۳a and Dnmt۳L was assessed by Real-time PCR. Immunofluorescent staining for ۵-methylcytosine in the oocytes evaluated the global DNA methylation. Results: A significant PAB increase in the ovaries from varicose group was seen. Real-time PCR demonstrated a remarkable decrease in the expression of the Dnmt۳a and Dnmt۳L which are responsible for de novo DNA methylation in the oocytes. Immunofluorescent staining for ۵-mC showed a reduction in the fluorescence intensity in the oocytes collected from the varicose group. Conclusion: Our findings from Real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry suggest that the epigenetic parameters in the oocyte could be affected by varicose induction and these epigenetic alteration has the potential to affect the oocyte quality. We suggest that the epigenetic changes could happen in the oocytes after the induction of ovarian varicose and lead to the oocyte quality reduction or even infertility.

Epigenetics, Infertility, Ovary, Prooxidant-antioxidant balance, Pelvic congestion syndrome