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 (E
2) 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 %), E
2 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.
