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Effect of <i>Lycii fructus</i> polysaccharides on ovulation failure in rats


Chun-Xia Wang
Jian-She Chen
Zi-Xue Sun
Hui Li
Bo Men
Xiao-Qian Zhang
Yong-Wei Li

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Lycii Fructus polysaccharides (LFPS) on ovulation failure.
Methods: A rat model of ovulation failure was established by intragastric administration of hydroxyurea (300 mg/kg). Rats with ovulation failure then received LFPS via oral administration at doses of 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg. The body, uterus and ovary of each rat were weighed using electronic scales. The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis hormones, including estradiol (E2) level, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) activity, and luteinizing hormone (LH) activity in the serum of each rat were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of pro-apoptotic proteins (Fas, FasL, FADD, c-caspase-8, c-caspase-10, c-caspase-3, c-caspase-6, and c-caspase-7) in the ovarian tissue of each rat were detected by western blot.
Results: Hydroxyurea reduced significantly (p < 0.01) uterus and ovary indices (uterus or ovary weight/body weight) (0.119 and 0.026 %), E2 level (3.42 pmol/L), and FSH and LH activities (2.28 and 2.76 U/L), compared with those in the normal group (0.169 and 0.039 %; 6.72 pmol/L; 2.76 and 3.75 U/L). Hydroxyurea increased significantly (p < 0.01) the levels of the above-mentioned pro-apoptotic proteins relative to those in the normal group. LFPS (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) reversed significantly (p < 0.05 or 0.01) the effect of hydroxyurea on all of the above indices.
Conclusion: LFPS exhibits a protective effect on hydroxyurea-induced ovulation failure by regulating the HPO axis hormones and death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Keywords: Lycii Fructus polysaccharides, Ovulation failure, Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, Death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway


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eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996