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. 2017 Oct;15(10):661-668.

Effect of Citrullus colocynthis hydro-alcoholic extract on hormonal and folliculogenesis process in estradiol valerate-induced PCOs rats model: An experimental study

Mohammad Hossein Barzegar  1 , Homayoun Khazali  1 , Seyyed Mehdi Kalantar  2 , Arezoo Khoradmehr  2
Affiliations

Effect of Citrullus colocynthis hydro-alcoholic extract on hormonal and folliculogenesis process in estradiol valerate-induced PCOs rats model: An experimental study

Mohammad Hossein Barzegar et al. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Citrullus colocynthis (CCT) is used as the anti-diabetic and antioxidant agent. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive disorder which level of gonadotropins and sexual hormones are imbalanced.

Objective: We evaluated the effect of CCT hydro-alcoholic extract on hormonal and folliculogenesis process in estradiol valerate-induced PCOs rats' model.

Materials and methods: 40 female adult Wistar rats divided into five groups (n=8each: Group I (control) only injected by sesame oil as estradiol valerate solvent, group II (Sham) was orally received normal saline after estradiol valerate- induced polycystic ovarian syndrome (4 mg/rat estradiol valerate, intramuscularly), and three experimental groups, that after induction of PCOS within 60 days, received orally 50 mg/kg CCT extract (group III), 50mg/kg metformin (group IV), and CCT extract+ metformin (group V) for 20 days. The serum concentration level of luteinizing, testosterone and follicle stimulating hormones were measured using ELISA method and the serum concentration level of glucose were measured using the oxidative method (glucose meter). Histological study of ovary tissue carried out by hematoxylin-eosin staining.

Results: There was a significant reduction in luteinizing hormone and testosterone in III-V groups compared to Sham group, whereas follicle stimulating hormone in III-V groups was not significantly changed in comparison with Sham group. Histological investigations showed a significant increase in number of preantral and antral follicles and corpus luteum in the experimental groups compared to group II.

Conclusion: Marked improvement in hormonal and histological symptoms of PCOS may be due to CCT effects hence, CCT can potentially be considered as an effective drug for treatment of PCOS.

Keywords: Follicugenesis; Gonadotropins hormones; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Rat Citrullus colocynthis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial or nonfinancial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The mean serum levels of glucose (mg/dl) in control (group I), induced PCOS or sham (group II), Citrullus colocynthis extract (group III), metformin (group IV) and Citrullus colocynthis extract and metformin (group V) (n=8/each). Data were analyses by one-way ANOVA test.* shows significant difference of sham group with III, IV and V groups (p≤0.001
Figure 2
Figure 2
The mean serum levels of Testosterone (ng/ml), LH (mU/ml) and FSH (mU/ml) in control (group I), induced PCOS or sham (group II), Citrullus colocynthis extract (group III), metformin (group IV) and Citrullus colocynthis extract and metformin (group V) (n=8/each). Data were analyses by one-way ANOVA test.* shows significant difference of sham group with III, IV and V groups (Testosterone, LH, and FSH as the level of p≤0.001, p≤0.001 and p=0.063, respectively
Figure 3
Figure 3
a) Group II: yellow and black arrows show the development of preantral and primordial follicles respectively. b) Group IV: green arrow shows the development of primary follicles. c) Group III: green and red arrows show the development of antral and primary follicles respectively. d) Group V: green and red arrows show the development of primary and primordial follicles respectively. Animals were divided into control (group I), induced PCOS or sham (group II), plant extract (group III), metformin (group IV) and plant extract and metformin (group V) (n=8/ each group) (magnification 200X
Figure 4
Figure 4
Average number of primordial, primary, parenteral and antral follicles and corpus luteum in female rats
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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