Objective: Ttrichlorethylene (TCE) has a widespread use and exposed intensely as an environmental pollutant. Many studies have shown its toxic effects on biological tissues. The aim of this study is investigate the effects of benfothiamin on ovarian and uterine tissues of rats exposed to TCE.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 24 female 8-10 weeks old Wistar-Albino rats were used. Nothing was given to control group. TCE was given 1000mg/kg/day/po to TCE group, 1000mg/kg/day/po.TCE and 70 mg/kg/day/po benfotiamin were applied to TCE+benfotiamin group and 70mg/kg/day/po benfotiamin was given to benfotiamin group, After the experimental period rats were decapitated under anesthesia. Tissues were embedded into paraffin blocks for histologic evaluation. The sections were stained with Masson Trichrome and histopathologic changes were examined. TUNEL technic was applied to sections and apoptotic cells were established. Ovarian and uterine tissues were preserved at -80⁰C for malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.

Results: Ovarian tissues in TCE groups showed significant increase at MDA levels, apoptotic cells and histopathologic changes. Compared with TCE group the changes showed decrease in TCE+benfotiamin group. At uterine tissues, MDA levels showed decrease in TCE group, and significant increase in TCE+benfotiamin group. There was no significant difference in apoptotic cells between groups. Histopathologically, inflammatory cells increased in TCE group’s uterine tissue, TCE+benfotiamin group didn’t show any changes.

Conclusion: TCE enhances MDA, apoptotic cells and histopathologic changes in ovarian tissue and treatment with benfotiamin reduces these changes. TCE has made limited changes in uterus and more extensive studies are needed to designate other effects.