Ampligo® 150 ZC affect the expression of sex hormone receptors and cell proliferation marker in female rabbit ovary: Protective effects of thyme essential oil and vitamin C

Pesticides tend to cause serious reproductive defects, disturbing endocrine functions and reducing fertility, especially in females. The objective of this work was to identify the reprotoxic effects of Ampligo® 150 ZC (AP), a mixture formulation of lambda cyhalothrin and chlorantraniliprole, on the ovary of female rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the possible protective effect of co-treatment with thyme essential oil (TEO), extracted from (Thymus vulgaris) species, and vitamin C (vit C). Twenty female rabbits were divided into four equal groups (n = 5): Control (distilled water), AP (20 mg/ kg bw of the insecticide mixture every other day, by gavage for 28 days), AP+TEO (20 mg/ kg bw of AP + 0.5 mg/ kg bw of TEO every other day), and AP+TEO+Vit C (20 mg/ kg bw of AP + 0.5 mg/ kg bw of TEO + 200 mg/ kg bw of vitamin C every other day). The effects were tested on body weight, ovary histomorphometry, and immunohistochemical expression of AFP, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR). The results revealed that AP decreased body and ovarian weights, caused ovarian histological damages, and increased collagen fiber deposition. The immunostaining of the ovary showed a significant (p < .001) increase in AFP and decrease in both ER and PR expressions. In the opposite, co-administration of TEO and vitamin C was effective in improving all caused alterations. In conclusion, combined use of TEO and vitamin C ameliorated the toxic effects of Ampligo® on the ovary in female rabbits.