Vitamin C suppresses ovarian pathophysiology in experimentalpolycystic ovarian syndrome

Abstract

tBackground: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as the Stein-Leventhal syndrome is one ofthe most common causes of anovulation, infertility and hyperandrogenism in women, affecting between5–10 % of women of reproductive age (12–35 years) worldwide. Despite substantial effort to define thecause of PCOS, its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Consequently, determining the mech-anisms of PCOS and the possible treatment is the major goal of medical research in endocrine andreproductive physiology.Aim: To investigate the mechanism of ovarian metabolic changes in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced polycystic ovary in Wistar rats treated with vitamin C.Methods: Twenty-eight immature female Wistar rats weighing (16–21 g) were randomly divided into fourgroups (n = 7/group): group I served as control and was given water, group II were injected with DHEA(6 mg/100 g in 0.2 ml corn oil subcutaneously to induce PCOS condition), group III received 150 mg/kgBW of Vitamin C orally, group IV were co-administered with 6 mg/kg BW DHEA in 0.2 ml of corn oilsubcutaneously and 150 mg/kg BW of Vitamin C orally. All treatments lasted for 15 days. Twenty-fourhours after the last administration, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Blood samples andovaries were collected for reproductive hormonal analysis, biochemical and histopathological analysis.The expressions of mRNA androgen receptor gene in the ovary were determined by real-time reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction. All data were analysed using one-way ANOVA.Results: There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the antioxidant and metabolic enzyme activity in theDHEA treated group compared with the control group. DHEA co-administration with Vitamin C showeda significant decrease in Malondialdehyde, cytokines and Estrogen and a significant increase (p < 0.05)in antioxidant and metabolic enzymes compared with DHEA treated group only. The histopathologicalevaluation demonstrates a reduction in cystic and atretic ovaries, increased expression of Bcl2and E-Cadherin with a reduction in Bax expression in the group co-administered with DHEA and Vitamin C. TheDHEA group showed overexpression of mRNA Androgen Receptor gene in the ovaries compared to thecontrol group.Conclusion: This study shows that Vitamin C plays a protective role against DHEA-Induced PolycysticOvary in Wistar rats via its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms