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Relationship between insulin resistance and adiponectin
expression in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome
Yu-xia Wang1*, Xing-mei Xie1,
Ming Dai2 and Wei-jie Zhu3
1Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Clinical College, Ji’nan
University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
2Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clifford Hospital of Guangzhou
Medical University, Guangzhou 511495, China.
3Center
for Reproductive Immunology Research, Ji’nan University,
Guangzhou 510630, China.
*Corresponding author.
E-mail:
wangyx020@live.cn.
Tel: +86-20-82327363.
Fax: +86-20-82302950
Accepted 4 June, 2010 |
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Our study investigated the relationship between insulin
resistance (IR) and adiponectin expression in the adipose
tissue of rat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) model.
Female rats were divided into two equal groups according to
their age, size and vitality. In Group 1, rats received
subcutaneous injections of DHEA (once daily) for 20
consecutive days to induce PCOS, and those in Group 2 were
injected with oil at the same period. Ovary weight, serum
insulin and sex hormone levels were determined. Oral glucose
tolerance test, light microscopy and electron microscopy
were also performed. The adiponectin mRNA and protein in the
adipose tissue were measured. The ovary weight in Group 1
was higher than that in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Numbers of
follicular cysts and corpora lutea in group 1 were also
significantly increased. The levels of serum testosterone
and estradiol, fasting serum glucose and insulin were
dramatically elevated when compared with those in Group 2 (p
< 0.05). Additionally, the expression of adiponectin mRNA
and protein was markedly down-regulated in the white adipose
tissues of Group 1. The absence of adiponectin may play an
important role in the pathogenesis of IR in PCOS, which
makes adiponectin a promising therapeutic strategy in
patients with IR induced by PCOS.
Key words:
Polycystic ovarian syndrome, adiponectin, insulin
resistance, sex hormone, animal model. |
