Fenofibrate ameliorates letrozole-induced polycystic ovary in rats via modulation of PPARα and TNFα/CD95 pathway.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine health problem during the childbearing period that seriously affects fertility in females. Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) agonist, showed beneficial effects in models of endocrine disturbances. Thus, we evaluated the potential therapeutic effect of fenofibrate in experimental PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats received oral fenofibrate (300 mg/kg/day) for three weeks following a three-week PCOS induction regimen using oral letrozole (1 mg/kg/day). We determined the changes in body weight, levels of serum testosterone, insulin, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), ovarian malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and tissue tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and CD95 protein expressions. The tissue expression of interleukin-10 (IL10) and PPARα genes was determined. RESULTS: Letrozole-treated rats showed successful induction of PCOS, confirmed by histopathology and significantly increased body weight, testosterone, insulin, AMH, and MDA, and decreased SOD. Ovaries of untreated PCOS rats showed increased TNFα and CD95 and decreased PPARα and IL10 expression. Administration of fenofibrate ameliorated the letrozole-induced PCOS changes. CONCLUSIONS: Fenofibrate-mediated amelioration of PCOS in rats is attributed partly to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties and activation of PPARα.