Cardiovascular Properties of the Androgen-Induced PCOS Model in Rats: The Role of Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaced reproductive endocrinopathy affecting 6-20% of women of childbearing age. It was previously shown that women with PCOS have an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiodynamic parameters of isolated rats’ hearts, blood pressure levels, and histomorphological changes in the heart tissue following the androgen-induced PCOS model in rats and the role of oxidative stress in the development of these CV properties of PCOS. 21-day-old female rats ( n = 12 ) were divided into control and PCOS groups. PCOS was induced by administration of testosterone enanthate (1 mg/kg BW, daily) during 35 days. During the autoregulation protocol (40-120 mmHg) on the Langendorff apparatus, ex vivo cardiodynamic parameters of retrogradely perfused hearts showed enhanced contractile function and increased lusitropic effects in the left ventricle (LV) in PCOS rats. Systolic and diastolic pressures in LV were elevated at all perfusion pressure values. Systemic arterial systolic blood pressure showed borderline elevation, while mean arterial blood pressure was significantly higher in PCOS rats. Histological evaluation of heart tissue depicted hypertrophic (8.3%) alterations in LV cardiomyocytes and increase (7.3%) in LV wall thickness. Oxidative stress parameters were altered in systemic circulation, coronary venous effluent (CVE), and heart tissue. Levels of superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione were decreased in blood and heart tissue, while catalase activity was not altered. Degree of lipid peroxidation was increased in circulation as well as heart tissue. Increased levels of O2- in CVE indicated the cardiotoxic effects in the rat PCOS model. The mentioned alterations of oxidative stress parameters in the blood, CVE, and heart could be recommended as potential contributors underlying the development of CV risk in PCOS women.

Prenatal kisspeptin antagonist exposure prevents polycystic ovary syndrome development in prenatally-androgenized rats in adulthood: An experimental study

“…Alterations in follicles number (increased numbers of preantral and antral follicles and a decrease in preovulatory follicles) in the ovary and the appearance of cystic follicles in our prenatally-androgenized rat model of PCOS are similar to the previous studies findings (20,32). Generally, as discussed above, androgen overexposure during fetal life could alter the structure and function of the HPO axis in females.…”

Antioxidative Effects of Standardized Aronia melanocarpa Extract on Reproductive and Metabolic Disturbances in a Rat Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

“…The tissue sections (4 µm thin) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Central ovarian sections were used to evaluate the ovarian histomorphology; the number of cystic follicles and number of CL were determined using Olympus BX-51, Olympus Europa GmbH, Hamburg, Germany [ 20 ].…”

“…Interestingly, SEA improved clinical and biochemical parameters in patients with confirmed metabolic syndrome even to a greater extent in women compared to men [ 19 ], probably involving the role of sex hormones on lipid metabolism. These data led us to an idea to explore the potential benefits of SEA administration in an androgen-induced PCOS rat model previously established in our laboratory [ 20 , 21 ]. Moreover, we aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of SEA and MET therapy in alleviating reproductive and metabolic abnormalities of PCOS.…”

Antioxidative and Cardioprotective Effects of Minocycline in Ischemia/reperfusion Injury in Experimental Model of Hypertension

“…At the end of the ex vivo protocol on Langendorff apparatus, all hearts were xed in 4% buffered paraformaldehyde solution for 24 h. Then, the tissues were dehydrated in increasing concentrations of alcohol (70%, 96%, and 100%), soaked in xylene on 60-70 °C for 60 min, and immersed in para n. Tissue sections (4 μm) were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and examined under light microscopy (OlympusBX-51,OlympusEuropaGmbH,Germany) by two of the authors in a blinded fashion. Morphometric analysis included examination of longitudinal section diameter and cross-sectional area at × 200 magni cation, using calibrated Axio Vision software (Zeiss, USA) [22,23].…”