| 1. |
- Cui, Peng, et al.
(author)
-
Hypothalamic DNA methylation in rats with dihydrotestosterone-induced polycystic ovary syndrome: effects of low-frequency electro-acupuncture.
- 2018
-
In: Experimental physiology. - 1469-445X. ; 103:12, s. 1618-1632
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- What is the central question of this study? What is the role of hypothalamic DNA methylation in the development of PCOS and the response to electro-acupuncture treatment. What is the main finding and its importance? Global DNA methylation and expression of DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) were increased in PCOS-like rats, and electro-acupuncture decreased global DNA methylation and Dnmt3b expression. Pyrosequencing showed that the DNA methylation of some PCOS candidate genes was changed in the PCOS and PCOS+EA groups, suggesting that hypothalamic DNA methylation plays an important role in the development of PCOS and in mediating the effects of electro-acupuncture treatment.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive and endocrine disease of unknown etiology. Recently, epigenetic studies focusing on DNA methylation in PCOS have received much attention, but the mechanisms are still unclear. In the present study, we used the 5a-dihydrotestosterone-induced PCOS-like rat model and treated the rats with electro-acupuncture (EA). Rats were randomly divided into four groups - controls, diet-induced obesity (DIO), PCOS, and PCOS+EA. We examined the reproductive, metabolic, and behavioral phenotypes, validated the effect of EA, and explored the role of hypothalamic DNA methylation by analyzing the methylation of global DNA and selected candidate genes. The PCOS rats presented with reproductive dysfunctions such as lack of regular estrus cyclicity, metabolic disorders such as increased body weight and insulin resistance, and depression and anxiety-like behaviors. EA improved the reproductive functions, decreased body weight, and improved experimental depressive behavior. Furthermore, global DNA methylation and the expression of DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) were increased in PCOS rats compared to the control group, and EA decreased the global DNA methylation and the expression of Dnmt3b. In addition, pyrosequencing showed that the DNA methylation of certain CpG sites in targeted genes (Plcg1, Camk2b, Esr2, and Pgr) was increased in the PCOS group, but the DNA methylation of Camk2b and Ar was decreased after EA treatment. These results indicate that hypothalamic DNA methylation might be correlated with the development of PCOS and that EA has an effect on hypothalamic DNA methylation in PCOS rats. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 2. |
- Tamadon, Amin, et al.
(author)
-
How to choose the suitable animal model of polycystic ovary syndrome?
- 2018
-
In: Traditional Medicine and Modern Medicine. - 2575-9000 .- 2575-9019. ; 1:2, s. 95-113
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a gynecological metabolic and endocrine disorder with uncertain etiology. To understand the etiology of PCOS or the evaluation of various therapeutic agents, different animal models have been introduced. Considering this fact that is difficult to develop an animal model that mimics all aspects of this syndrome, but, similarity of biological, anatomical, and/or biochemical features of animal model to the human PCOS phenotypes can increase its application. This review paper evaluates the recently researched animal models and introduced the best models for different research purposes in PCOS studies. During January 2013 to January 2017, 162 studies were identified which applied various kinds of animal models of PCOS including rodent, primate, ruminant and fish. Between these models, prenatal and pre-pubertal androgen rat models and then prenatal androgen mouse model have been studied in detail than others. The comparison of main features of these models with women PCOS demonstrates higher similarity of these three models to human conditions. Thereafter, letrozole models can be recommended for the investigation of various aspects of PCOS. Interestingly, similarity of PCOS features of post-pubertal insulin and human chorionic gonadotropin rat models with women PCOS were considerable which can make it as a good choice for future investigations.
|
|
| 3. |
- Xiong, Weixi, et al.
(author)
-
Circulatory microRNA 23a and microRNA 23b and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): the effects of body mass index and sex hormones in an Eastern Han Chinese population.
- 2017
-
In: Journal of ovarian research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1757-2215. ; 10:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the expression of genes involved in various cellular functions related to metabolism, inflammation, and reproduction. This study evaluated the effects of sex hormones and obesity on the expression of circulating miR-23a and miR-23b in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women.Serum sex hormones concentrations and body mass index (BMI) were measured in 18 women with PCOS and in 30 healthy women from the East China area and these measurements were correlated with serum miR-23a/b levels. The effect of miR-23a and miR-23b risk factors on occurrence of PCOS and predisposing factors of PCOS on these miRNA expressions were evaluated.The expressions of miR-23a/b were significantly lower in the women with PCOS than the normal women, and the expression levels of miR-23a/b were positively correlated with each other in the normal women (p=0.001) but not in the women with PCOS (p>0.05). In the women with PCOS, miR-23a was positively correlated with BMI (p=0.03). However, no correlations were found between the levels of miR-23a/b and the sex hormones in the normal and PCOS women. On the other hand, without considering the presence or absence of PCOS, increase in BMI had a positive effect on the levels of circulating miR-23b; while testosterone had negative effects on the levels of circulating miR-23a. Furthermore, the likelihood of women with PCOS decreased by 0.01-fold for every 1 fold increase of miR-23a expression.Both reduced levels and discordance between the expressions of miR-23a/b were observed in the women with PCOS and miR-23a/b were affected from testosterone and BMI, reversely. Therefore, miR-23a alteration in contrast with miR-23b is a better indicator for evaluation of PCOS than the miR-23b.
|
|
| 4. |
- Zhang, Feifei, et al.
(author)
-
Diversity of the Gut Microbiota in Dihydrotestosterone-Induced PCOS Rats and the Pharmacologic Effects of Diane-35, Probiotics, and Berberine. : Gut Microbiota in Dihydrotestosterone-Induced PCOS Rats
- 2019
-
In: Frontiers in microbiology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-302X. ; 10
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent endocrine and metabolic syndrome in reproductive-age women. Recently, emerging evidence has shown that gut microbiota is closely related to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and PCOS. In the present study, we established dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced PCOS rats and used Illumina MiSeq sequencing (PE300) to examine the composition, diversity, and abundance of the gut microbiota in PCOS. We compared the effects of three PCOS treatments: Diane-35 (estrogen and progesterone), probiotics and berberine. The DHT-induced rats showed constant estrous cycles, the loss of mature ovarian follicles, insulin resistance and obesity. The reproductive and metabolic functions in the PCOS rats were improved by treatment with Diane-35 and probiotics. Diane-35 and probiotics could restore the diversity of the gut microbiota, and the recovery of gut microbiota disorders improved the reproductive function in PCOS-like rats. However, berberine drastically reduced the species diversity and amount of gut microbiota and showed no improvement in PCOS. The findings of this study will help us to better understand the influence of the gut microbiota in the metabolic and reproductive alterations in PCOS as well as suggest opportunities for future personal dietary guidance for PCOS.
|
|
