The effect of resveratrol on oxidative stress in the liver and serum of a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome: An experimental study

Studies of oxidative status in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients are limited with inconsistent results. The effects of resveratrol as a natural antioxidant on oxidative status in PCOS aren’t clear.

This study evaluated effects of resveratrol on oxidative stress in the liver and serum of the PCOS rats.

Fifteen female Wistar rats (3 wk old) were divided into 3 groups (n=5/each e): Control group, PCO-Control group, and PCO-Resveratrol group. For induction of polycystic ovary phenotype, testosterone enanthate 10 mg/kg was injected for 35 days subcutaneously. Then, resveratrol 10 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally for 28 days to rats of the PCO-Resveratrol group. Ovarian sections were stained with hematoxylin/eosin. The serum glucose and insulin and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in serum and liver were measured.

Control animals showed normal ovarian morphology and PCO-Control animals exhibited cystic follicles. There were no significant differences in liver TAC between groups. The serum MDA (p=0.034), and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p=0.014) levels in PCO-Control rats were higher than the controls. The liver MDA in PCO-Control rats was more than that of controls (p=0.001). The HOMA-IR (p=0.008) and serum MDA (p=0.006) levels in PCO-Control rats were more than those of PCO-Resveratrol rats (p=0.008). In PCO-Resveratrol group, serum TAC was higher than that of PCO-Control group (p=0.022) and liver MDA was more than controls (p=0.01).

Results indicated that the induction of PCOS in rats increased lipid peroxidation and insulin resistance and resveratrol improved these complications.