Abstract
BackgroundChronic stress has been known to impair the female reproductive function, but the mechanism remains to be further investigated. Chaiyu-Dixian Formula (CYDXF) has been reported to regulate human endocrine disorders clinically. However, whether this formula can affect chronic stress-induced ovarian follicular development is not clear.Aim of the studyTo examine effects of CYDXF on follicular development and explore possible mech anisms in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model.Materials and MethodsAdult female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups control group, CUMS group (saline treatment), CUMS+Estradiol (E2) (0.1 mg/kg) group, CUMS+CYDXF (2.73 g/kg) group, and CUMS+CYDXF (5.46 g/kg) group. Body weights and behavioral tests were documented. Serum hormone levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting was used to detect the protein levels in the PI3K/Akt pathway and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The follicles were analyzed and classified according to their morphological characterization.ResultsCYDXF relieved depression-like behaviors and ameliorated the abnormality in rat estrous cycle within the rat model of CUMS. Moreover, CYDXF could regulate endocrine disorders, increase the proportion of antral follicles as well as decrease the proportion of follicular atresia, which suggested that CYDXF could alleviate abnormal follicular development and improve overall ovarian function. Furthermore, CYDXF also activated the BDNF-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.ConclusionsCYDXF (at dose of both 2.73 and 5.46 g/kg) attenuated chronic stress-induced abnormal ovarian follicular development by relieving depression-like behaviors and improving ovarian function through partly the regulation of the BDNF-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway.
Highlights
Chronic stress can affect the body's physiological and mental health, including its metabolic and immune systems
Each group had a similar result of total traveled distance in the Open Field Test (OFT) at baseline on day 0 (Figure 3A, P>0.05), and after modeling for 28 days, the total traveled distance of rats in the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) group was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P
There were no significant differences at baseline on day 0 among each group, (Figure 3B, P>0.05), but differences were obvious after the CUMS procedure for 28 days
Summary
Chronic stress can affect the body's physiological and mental health, including its metabolic and immune systems. It is one of the risk factors for anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases (McEwen, 2008; Karisetty et al, 2017). Due to anatomical and physiological structures, women in the reproductive age are more susceptible than men to developing stress-related psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Chaiyu-Dixian Formula (CYDXF) has been reported to regulate human endocrine disorders clinically. Whether this formula can affect chronic stress-induced ovarian follicular development is not clear
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