Effect and mechanism of pearl on ovarian function of rats with premature ovarian failure induced by tripterygium glycosides

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Recent studies show that combination of apoptosis and oxidative stress forms a “vicious circle” in the process of premature ovarian failure (POF). Pearl extract has a good effect for anti-oxidation and anti-aging in vitro and vivo and can be used to treat various aging diseases. However, reports about effect and mechanism of pearl on ovarian function of premature ovarian failure (POF)are limited. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: The effect and mechanism of pearl on ovarian function of rats with POF were evaluated using rats with premature ovarian failure induced by tripterygium glycosides. The estrous cycle, contents of serum reproductive hormones, tissue structure, oxidative stress level, autophagy and apoptotic protein expression, and MAPK signaling pathway of ovary were assessed to characterise pearl. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Low, medium and high-dose pearl improved the estrous cycle in POF rats, and high-dose pearl was the best in terms of recovery effect; high-dose pearl significantly increased (P < 0.05) contents of E2, AMH and GSH, activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-PX and follicular development, while significantly decreased (P < 0.05)contents of FSH, LH and ROS and MDA in POF rats; low, medium and high-dose pearl notably reduced (P < 0.05) the apoptotic protein cleaved-caspase 3 and Bax expression, and MAPK signaling pathway of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK in POF rats, among which high-dose pearl behaved best. Medium and high-dose pearl apparently raised (P < 0.05)expressions of autophagy protein LC3II, Beclin-1 and p62 in POF rats. Therefore, pearl can effectively enhance ovarian function of POF rats. The optimal concentration was found to be 740 mg kg(−1) at a high dose. The mechanism may be related with the enhanced follicular development through improving granulosa cell autophagy and inhibiting granulosa cell apoptosis by inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway after scavenging excessive ROS. SECTION: 1. Natural Products. TAXONOMY (CLASSIFICATION BY EVISE): Ovarian Cancer, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Traditional Medicine, Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Studies, Rat, Autophagy.