International Journal of Fertility and Sterility (Jan 2024)

An Experimental Study on The Oxidative Status and Inflammatory Levels of A Rat Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Induced by Letrozole and A New High-Fat Diet

  • Seyyede Fahimeh Mirseyyed,
  • Saeed Zavareh,
  • Meysam Nasiri,
  • Hamid Hashemi-Moghaddam

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22074/ijfs.2023.1972296.1391
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 1
pp. 45 – 53

Abstract

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Background: Although there are numerous animal models of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), they often fail toaccurately replicate the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes associated with PCOS. The objective of this study isto assess oxidative status and inflammatory levels in a rat model of PCOS subjected to a new high-fat diet (HFD) incombination with letrozole.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, mature, six-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=20) weredivided into four groups: control (standard diet); letrozole (letrozole plus a standard diet); HFD; and letrozole+HFD.After 16 weeks, the rats underwent vaginal smear analysis, measurement of hormonal and lipid profiles, and anoral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Ovarian tissue morphology, oxidative parameters, and inflammatory status wereevaluated.Results: The experimental groups exhibited anoestrus profiles in the vaginal smears and abnormal ovarian morphology,which was not observed in the control group. Steroid hormone levels were significantly higher in theletrozole+HFD group compared to the other groups (P=0.00). The experimental groups also showed abnormal glucoselevels and lipid metabolism. The relative expression levels of inflammatory genes were significantly elevated inthe experimental groups compared to the control group (P=0.00), and the letrozole+HFD group exhibited the highestexpression level (P=0.00). The HFD, letrozole, and letrozole+HFD groups demonstrated significantly increased levelsof malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), while the levels of enzymatic antioxidants weresignificantly reduced compared to the control group (P=0.00).Conclusion: The combination of a new HFD and letrozole treatment induces inflammation and oxidative stress (OS)in a rat model of PCOS. This model accurately exhibits abnormal metabolic phenotypes and disruptions in hormonalprofiles associated with PCOS.

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