• Damla Gül Fındık, Gülnur Take Kaplanoğlu, Gökçe Nur Arık, and Nagwa Bugumaa Abubaker Alemari.
• Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology - Bilecik, Turkey.
• Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2023 Jan 1; 69 (8): e20230381e20230381.

ObjectiveFolliculogenesis is a complex process involving various ovarian paracrine factors. During folliculogenesis, vitamin D3 and progesterone are significant for the proper development of follicles. This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D3 and selective progesterone receptor modulator ulipristal acetate on ovarian paracrine factors.MethodsIn the study, 18 female Wistar-albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (saline administration, n=6), vitamin D3 group (300 ng/day vitamin D3 oral administration, n=6), and UPA group (3 mg/kg/day ulipristal acetate oral administration, n=6). Ovarian tissue was analyzed by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. For quantification of immunohistochemistry, the mean intensities of growth differentiation factor 9, bone morphogenetic protein 15, and forkhead box O3a expressions were measured by Image J and MATLAB. Blood samples were collected for the analysis of serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels by ELISA.ResultsAtretic follicles and hemorrhagic cystic structures were observed in the UPA group. After immunohistochemistry via folliculogenesis assessment markers, growth differentiation factor 9, bone morphogenetic protein 15, and cytoplasmic forkhead box O3a expressions decreased in the UPA group (p<0.05). Anti-Müllerian hormone level did not differ significantly between the experimental groups (p>0.05).ConclusionUlipristal acetate negatively affects folliculogenesis via ovarian paracrine factors. The recommended dietary vitamin D3 supplementation in healthy cases did not cause a significant change.

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