Kuşçu GC, Gürel Ç, Buhur A, Oltulu F, Akman L, Köse T, Yavaşoğlu NÜK, Yavaşoğlu A. The regulatory effects of clomiphene and tamoxifen on mTOR and LC3-II expressions in relation to autophagy in experimental polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Mol Biol Rep 2021;
49:1721-1729. [PMID:
34813001 DOI:
10.1007/s11033-021-06981-y]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic disease that causes infertility due to anovulation in women in reproductive age. It is known that clomiphene citrate (CC) and tamoxifen citrate (TMX) induce ovulation in women with PCOS. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of CC and TMX on the autophagy pathway in PCOS.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Experimental PCOS model was induced by letrozole (1 mg/kg) in rats by gavage for 21 days. After the last letrozole administration, rats were treated TMX (1 mg/kg) or CC (1 mg/kg) for 5 days. At the end of the experimental procedures, rats in all groups were sacrificed and ovarian tissues were removed. It was observed that mRNA and protein expressions of LC3-II were significantly higher in TMX and CC groups than control and PCOS groups (p < 0.05), while mRNA and protein expressions of mTOR in TMX and CC groups were found significantly lower than control and PCOS groups (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, present study suggests that TMX and CC induce autophagy in ovaries with PCOS. Autophagy is a promising target for understanding pathophysiology of this disease and for developing more effective and safe new protocols for the treatment of PCOS-related anovulation.
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