Therapeutic effects of Vitex (Vitagnus castus) extract on in vitro maturation and fertilization of oocytes in mice affected by polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome results from lack of follicular wall collagen reduction leading to accumulation of follicles and decreased oocyte quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitex extract on in vitro maturation and fertilization of oocytes in mice exposed to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOs). A total of 32 immature Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) 25 day old female mice with a mean body weight of 25 gr were randomly allocated into four experimental groups including: 1) Control group (Con) which did not receive extract, 2) PCO: polycystic ovary syndrome group which also did not receive any extract, and groups 3 and 4 in which PCO was induced and received vitex extract at 365 and 730 mg/kg/day respectively for 30 days. The mice received intraperitoneal injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and subsequently sacrificed in order to collect oocytes from ovarian follicles for in vitro analysis of maturation and fertilization. The amounts of serum testosterone and estradiol substantially decreased in extract treated groups in comparison with PCO mice (p >0.05). On the other hand, the percentage of produced blastocyst and hatched embryos in PCO+365 mg of extract was higher than PCO (p <0.05). The results showed vitex extract consumption can induce more oocytes for fertilization and consequently, production of embryos in animals with PCO syndrome.

Keywords

• pcos
• vitex
• in vitro maturation
• in vitro fertilization