The Effect of Exercise Training on Serum Level of β-Estradiol, Testosterone, and Cognitive Deficit in Rats with Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder with unclear etiology, which characterized by ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. We investigated the possible influence of exercise training on the serum level of β-estradiol and testosterone as well as on cognitive functions in rat model of PCOS. Materials and Methods: To induce PCOS, 30 virgin female Sprague dawley rats received letrozole continuously (1mg/kg/d). After 28 day of letrozole intra-peritoneal injection, rats were randomly divided into the PCOS and PCOS+exercise groups and compared with healthy controls. In PCOS+exercise group, the exercise program was to 20 minutes daily swimming for four weeks. After four weeks, we evaluated spatial memory by Morris water maze test in all groups. Then, the serum level of free testosterone and β-estradiol was measured using ELISA. Results: The findings indicated an increase of serum level of testosterone and β-estradiol with spatial memory deficits in PCOS rats. However, exercise training significantly reduced the serum level of both hormones and improved cognitive function in PCOS+exercise rats. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that shortterm exercise training can ameliorate the cognitive deficit and decrease the serum level of testosterone and β-estradiol in PCOS model. The exercise training can be the basic therapeutic means for cognitive aspect of PCOS.