Comparative effects of the antioxidant glutathione with metformin and Diane-35 on hormonal, metabolic, and inflammatory indicators in a DHEA-induced PCOS rat model

Abstract

Objective

Comparison of hormonal, metabolic and inflammatory markers of glutathione with metformin and Diane-35 in a rat model of PCOS induced by dehydroepiandrosterone.

Methods

Twenty-five female rats were randomized into four groups. Group 1 was administered a subcutaneous dose of 0.2 ml saline/day. Group 2 was given 0.2 ml of 1% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/day orally for 28 days. A PCOS model was established with DHEA in rats. Group 3 was given 4.5 mg/kg/day of Diane-35 orally dissolved in 1% CMC for 28 days. Group 4 was given 300 mg/kg/day of metformin orally dissolved in 1 ml of saline for 28 days, and Group 5 was administered 100 mg/kg of glutathione intraperitoneally on days 35, 42, and 49. On day 56, the rats were sacrificed. Serum markers and follicle count were examined.

Results

Serum IL-6, hs-CRP, insulin, testosterone, SHBG, and MDA values were significantly lower in the glutathione group than in the PCOS group (p = 0.0006, p = 0.023, p = 0.0082, p = 0.0007, p = 0.0048, and p < 0.0001, respectively).

The number of all follicles was similar between the control and glutathione groups (p < 0.05). When we compared the other groups with the PCOS group, the number of primary, secondary, atretic, and cystic follicles was significantly lower in the metformin and glutathione groups. The number of primordial and antral follicles was significantly higher than in the PCOS group.

Conclusions

Glutathione plays anti-inflammatory and antioxidant roles, similar to metformin, by lowering serum IL-6, insulin, testosterone, CRP, and MDA levels; decreasing atretic/cystic follicle count; and improving antral follicle count and folliculogenesis in PCOS patients.

Keywords:

• Glutathione
• pCOS
• metformin
• dHEA
• antioxidant

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Pınar Özcan, upon reasonable request.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by Bezmialem Vakıf University Scientific Research Projects [Number: 20220403E].