Effect of folic acid and vitamin E on promoter DNA methylation and expression of TGF-ß1, ESR-1 and CDH-1 in the uterus of STZ-induced diabetic rats.

ABSTRACT

The present study is the first attempt made to investigate the effects of diabetes on expression and promoter DNA methylation of TGF-ß1, ESR-1, and CDH-1 genes and also the effects of folic acid (FA) and vitamin E (Vit E) supplementations on improving diabetes mellitus. STZ-induced diabetic rats were treated with Vit E (200 mg/kg/day) and FA (25 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks and expression and DNA methylation of TGF-ß1, ESR-1, and CDH-1 genes in uterus were analysed. Data indicated that diabetes increases the expression of TGFß-1 and ESR-1 and decreases CDH-1 expression and TGFß-1 promoter methylation in the uterus of rats. Vit E and FA improved the negative effects of diabetes by decreasing the expression of TGFß-1 and ESR-1 and increasing that of CDH-1 in diabetic rats. In conclusion, these findings emphasise that Vit E and FA supplementations could improve negative effects caused by diabetes on uterus function and fertility in diabetic rats.