Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Bratislava Medical Journal, cilt.126, sa.10, ss.2581-2590, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has broadly impacted physical, psychological, social, and economic aspects of society, with a significant concern being the belief that COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility, inducing stress among women planning pregnancies. This study aimed to examine how the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine (BioNTech) and the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated virus vaccine (Turkovac) affect ovarian reserve and fertility in rats. Materials and Methods: Female white Wistar Albino rats (16 weeks old, 250 g) were divided into three groups: control, SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine, and SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine (10 rats each). The mRNA vaccine group received a dose of 0.3 ml subcutaneously on day zero and a booster on day 28. The inactivated vaccine group received a dose of 0.5 ml subcutaneously on day zero and a booster on day 28. On day 60, rats were euthanised, and ovarian tissues were examined histologically, immunohistochemically, and biochemically. Results: Histological evaluation also included quantitative analysis of follicular stages per ovary using Pedersen and Peters classification. Sections were examined for primordial, primary, secondary, antral, and atretic follicles. Data is presented in new Table 3. This provides a more granular assessment of ovarian reserve alongside AMH, including well-preserved corpus luteum, primary, secondary, and antral follicles. No pathological abnormalities or degenerative changes were observed in the H&E and Masson’s trichrome-stained sections, indicating intact ovarian morphology following vaccine administration. Immunohistochemical analysis showed comparable expression of PTEN, HIF1-α, TNF-α, IL-6, AIF-1, and AMH among the groups, with no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). Similarly, biochemical markers of oxidative stress (CAT, MDA, and SOD) did not show significant alterations, reinforcing the absence of vaccine-induced ovarian toxicity. Conclusion: The BioNTech and Turkovac vaccines did not significantly affect ovarian reserve, indicating no negative impact on fertility. These findings emphasise the importance of considering vaccine effects on ovarian reserve and fertility in public health planning, potentially reducing fertility concerns and ensuring a healthy vaccination process. The study provides valuable guidance for healthcare professionals and public health policies to implement reliable vaccination programs.