Bilateral Ovariectomy in Young Rats: What Happens in Their Livers during Cecal Ligation and Puncture Induced Sepsis?

Study ObjectivePediatric ovarian masses comprise a heterogeneous group of benign and malignant lesions. Surgical methods consist of emergency or programmed surgery with tumoral resection and uni/bilateral oophorectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy. We examined whether bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) worsens liver injury during the onset of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in rats.DesignThe rat groups were: sham, bilateral-OVX, sepsis, and OVX-sepsis.SettingsAfter OVX operation, rats were allowed to recover for 12 weeks. At the end of recovery, CLP was applied 16 hours after sepsis induction.Main OutcomeThere was a significant difference in the numerical density of hepatocytes only between the sepsis and the OVX-sepsis groups. Serum ALT and AST were increased significantly in the OVX-sepsis group. NF-κB activation after OVX increased after induction of sepsis. OVX-sepsis group showed marked thrombosis in portal vein branches and the central vein, degeneration in the bile ducts, and widespread ischemic areas in liver sections. Intra-inflammatory cell invasion was observed in both the portal and intrasinusoidal areas.DiscussionThis study indicates that increases in liver NF-κB activity in ovariectomized rats following CLP-induced sepsis correlates with elevated levels of serum ALT and AST and with histopathologic changes in rat liver. Bilateral OVX therefore appears to play a role in the activation of NF-κB or in production of cytokines in liver cells. Thus, we provided novel insight into the effects of OVX on liver injury following CLP-induced sepsis.