Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on insulin resistance genes in granulosa cells of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) often induces reduced ovulation, infertility and insulin resistance. One of the most influential inducer factors in disease is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, which has a variety of physiological functions. PPARγ agonists are used for the treatment of insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism and ovarian dysfunction in PCOS patients. Fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and their metabolites are natural ligands for PPARγ and a good option for regulation of PPARγ gene expression.
This case-control study was carried out on 30 women with PCOS referred to the Tabriz-Alzahra fertility center for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Granulosa cells collected from follicular fluid of these individuals were cultured in vitro. Gene expression of PPARγ, insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 were examined on cultured granulosa cells in culture medium and EPA–mediated culture media.
The PPARγ gene expression was increased in EPA-treated medium with a maximum expression at a concentration of 100 mmol in 48 hours. On this basis, increment of PPARγ expression lead to the increased gene expression involved in the steroidogenesis, (i.e. IGF-1). However, the exptression of both genes were decreased in PCOS and the control medium.
In this study, we observed that different concentrations of EPA increased PPARγ gene expression.