Effect of vitamin D on experimental model of polycystic ovary syndrome in female rats

Aims: Vitamin D plays an important role in the regulation of ovulatory dysfunction. We aimed to study the effect of vitamin D on letrozole-induced PCOS in female rats. Material & methods: 40 non-pregnant Wistar rats were divided into four groups: group I control (received 1 ml of 1% aqueous solution of (CMC)/d orally), group II letrozole-induced PCOS group (received letrozole 200 mu g/ d orally), group III vitamin D-treated group (received vitamin D 1000 IU/kg/d), group IV letrozole and vitamin D treated group (received letrozole and vitamin D as group II and group III for 90 days. BMI, ovarian weight, serum vitamin D, biochemical metabolic and oxidative stress markers were evaluated, ovarian tissues glutathione, malondialdehyde levels and caspase-3 activity were measured. Histopathological examination of the ovary and coronary artery were done. Key findings: Letrozole-induced typical PCOS with significant decrease in vitamin D and coronary vasculopathy. Group II shows insignificant change in all parameters but there is significant increase in vitamin D and decrease in triglyceride and glutathione. In group VI all parameters were significantly improved but coronary vasculopathy was partly improved. Vitamin D was significantly negatively correlated with all parameters but significantly positively correlated with estradiol, insulin sensitivity, and HDL and insignificantly correlated with glutathione. Both Insulin resistance and testosterone were significantly positively correlated with all parameters but significantly negatively correlated with estradiol, insulin sensitivity, HDL and glutathione. Significance: These results holding the promise of beneficial impact of vitamin D administration to PCOS and its associated cardiovascular disorders.

Automated summary

The study showed that vitamin D administration can improve the manifestation of letrozole-induced PCOS in female rats, with positive effects on biochemical metabolic and oxidative stress markers, but only partially improved coronary vasculopathy.