STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF LICORICE ROOT HYDROALCOHOLICLICORICE EXTRACT ON MICE UTERUS HISTOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND LEVEL OF TESTOSTERONE IMPROVEMENT WITH HYPERANDROGENISM FOLLOWING EXPERIMENTAL POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder of unknown cause that affects 5 to10 percent of women in childbearing age. The most reliable indicator for the presence of PCOS is increasing blood androgen (hyperandrogenism) which causes symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, anovulatory, implantation failure and so on. This study aimed to investigate how hyperandrogenism-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects histological and hormonal parameters. Sixty mice were divided into six groups of control and experimental. Hyperandrogenism (HA) was induced by oral administration of 2mg/kg letrozole and protective effects of licorice root were studied in three doses: 150, 300, 450 mg/kg by gavage for 21 consecutive days. The sixth one was administrated by 450 mg/kg licorice extract alone (Each group had 10 mice). After 21 days animals were anesthetized and blood sample was taken for hormonal assay. Also histological samples of uterine horne were fixed. Histological and histomorphometrical studies were done by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The level of testosterone was measured in serum. Comparing the results of different groups showed that histological parameters including diameter, wall, epithelial and endometrium thickness in hyperandrogen uterine horn greatly reduced. The results of the study also indicated an increase in the hormone testosterone in the group receiving letrozole. Also licorice root extract was able to have a protective effect relatively. Finally, it can be concluded that administration of appropriate doses of licorice root extract has improved antioxidant ingredients so that HA and its adverse effect on female reproductive system was reduced.