Impact of erythropoietin and myoinositol versus metformin on insulin resistance in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic role of erythropoietin (EPO) or myoinositol versus metformin (MET) in improving the reproductive functions and glucose tolerance in a rat model of polycystic ovary (PCOS). Oral letrozole (LTZ) was used for induction of PCOS in wester rats for 21 days, after that, MET, EPO and myoinositol were administered for the following 21 days. The LTZ-induced PCOS rats have lost their oestrous cyclicity and become fixed at the diestrus phase, developed insulin resistance, abnormal sex and gonadotrophin hormone serum levels, increased cystic follicles, decreased number of the growing follicles and very little or no corpora lutea on microscopic examination, which were reversed by the three drugs, MET, EPO and myoinositol. MET and myoinositol were mostly equally effective in improving the reproductive manifestations of the disease. However, EPO was most effective in decreasing the insulin level observed in this LTZ-induced model of PCOS.

Keywords:

• Polycystic ovary rat
• letrozole
• metformin
• erythropoietin
• myoinositol

Correction Statement

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

Ethical statement

The study was approved by The Medical Research Ethics Committee of Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, registration number: Soh-Med-21-02-48, considering the care and use of laboratory animals.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Author contributions

A.A. and Y.L. conceived and designed research; Y.L. and N.G. performed, wrote and analysed data related to the histological part of the experiment; A.A.M. performed and analysed the PCR. H.E. prepared figures. Editing and drafting of the manuscript were done by A.A. with final revision from all authors. All authors shared in writing the manuscript.

Data availability statement

The data that support this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding of this research by the project management unit of Sohag University under project number 201915.