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Neurotransmitter alteration in a testosterone propionate-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome rat model

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Published/Copyright: October 29, 2016
Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation
From the journal Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation Volume 29 Issue 2

Abstract

Background:

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), one of the leading causes of infertility seen in women, is characterized by anovulation and hyperandrogenism, resulting in ovarian dysfunction. In addition, associations of several metabolic complications like insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia and psychological co-morbidities are well known in PCOS. One of the major factors influencing mood and the emotional state of mind is neurotransmitters. Also, these neurotransmitters are very crucial for GnRH release. Hence, the current study investigates the status of neurotransmitters in PCOS.

Materials and methods:

A PCOS rat model was developed using testosterone. Twenty-one-day-old rats were subcutaneously injected with 10 mg/kg body weight of testosterone propionate (TP) for 35 days. The animals were validated for PCOS characteristics by monitoring estrus cyclicity, serum testosterone and estradiol levels and by histological examination of ovarian sections. Neurotransmitter estimation was carried out using fluorometric and spectrophotometric methods.

Results:

TP-treated animals demonstrated increased serum testosterone levels with unaltered estradiol content, disturbed estrus cyclicity and many peripheral cysts in the ovary compared to control rats mimicking human PCOS. Norepinephrine (NE), dopamine, serotonin, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and epinephrine levels were significantly low in TP-induced PCOS rats compared to control ones, whereas the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the PCOS brain was markedly elevated.

Conclusion:

Neurotransmitter alteration could be one of the reasons for disturbed gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release, consequently directing the ovarian dysfunction in PCOS. Also, decrease in neurotransmitters, mainly NE, serotonin and dopamine (DA) attributes to mood disorders like depression and anxiety in PCOS.

Keywords: depression; GnRH regulation; neurotransmitters; PCOS

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank Dr. B. Suresh of the Deptartment of Zoology, the M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, India, for his assistance in the photomicrographs.

  1. Author Statement

  2. Funding: Authors state no funding involved.

  3. Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest.

  4. Informed consent: Informed consent is not applicable.

  5. Ethical approval: The research related to animals use complies with all the relevant national regulations and institutional policies for the care and use of animals.

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Received: 2016-7-11
Accepted: 2016-9-27
Published Online: 2016-10-29
Published in Print: 2017-2-1

©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Original Articles
  3. A low dose (6.5 mg) of intravaginal DHEA permits a strictly local action while maintaining all serum estrogens or androgens as well as their metabolites within normal values
  4. Thiol/disulfide parameters as a novel oxidative marker in medical labor induction with oxytocin
  5. Case Report
  6. Primary umbilical endometriosis successfully treated with dienogest
  7. Short Communication
  8. Neurotransmitter alteration in a testosterone propionate-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome rat model
https://doi.org/10.1515/hmbci-2016-0035
Keywords for this article
depression; GnRH regulation; neurotransmitters; PCOS

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Original Articles
  3. A low dose (6.5 mg) of intravaginal DHEA permits a strictly local action while maintaining all serum estrogens or androgens as well as their metabolites within normal values
  4. Thiol/disulfide parameters as a novel oxidative marker in medical labor induction with oxytocin
  5. Case Report
  6. Primary umbilical endometriosis successfully treated with dienogest
  7. Short Communication
  8. Neurotransmitter alteration in a testosterone propionate-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome rat model
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