Abstract
The interplay between genetic and environmental risk factors contributes to the pathogenesis of metabolic disease. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine and metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age. Circadian rhythm disruption is an important risk factor for PCOS. In this study, we evaluated the effect of circadian disorder on reproduction as well as metabolism, and determined its influence on gut microbiota in a rat model. Female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were kept under continuous light exposure (12-h:12-h light/light cycle, L/L group) or a control cycle (12-h:12-h light/dark cycle, L/D group) for four consecutive weeks. Manifestations in endocrine hormones and metabolism were detected and gut microbiota were analyzed with the 16s rRNA gene sequencing technique. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report PCOS-like reproductive manifestation, such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) elevation induced by continuous light exposure. Moreover, continuous light resulted in abnormal glucose metabolism and gut microbial community variations, including enrichment of the microbial genus of Parasutterella and reduced abundance of genus Corynebacterium, genus Odoribacter, and genus Acinetobacter. Increased Parasutterella abundance was positively correlated with serum testosterone level. A PICRUSt analysis revealed that reproductive and metabolic-related genes were enriched in rats of L/D group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that continuous light exposure, an important environmental factor, contributes to the occurrence and developmental progress of PCOS and changes in microbial component and structure. Continuous light exposure is one of vital causes of PCOS, which is closely related to microbial structure and functions.
Highlights
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 10 to 15% worldwide (Azziz et al, 2016)
According to criteria of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), PCOS patients present with the combination of chronic oligo- or anovulation, clinical or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism, and ovary enlargement or 12 or more small follicles (2–9 mm) under ultrasound without related disorders (Rotterdam Eshre/AsrmSponsored Pcos Consensus Workshop Group, 2004)
Several studies have shown that women exposed to night-light shifts had irregular menstrual cycles (Lawson et al, 2011) that were frequently associated with dysmenorrhea and metabolic syndrome (Lim et al, 2018), insulin resistance, and deregulation of glucose metabolism (Sharma et al, 2017), all of which are recognized risk factors for PCOS (Ali, 2015)
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 10 to 15% worldwide (Azziz et al, 2016). Several studies have shown that women exposed to night-light shifts had irregular menstrual cycles (Lawson et al, 2011) that were frequently associated with dysmenorrhea and metabolic syndrome (Lim et al, 2018), insulin resistance, and deregulation of glucose metabolism (Sharma et al, 2017), all of which are recognized risk factors for PCOS (Ali, 2015). The effect of circadian rhythm disruption on reproductive hallmarks of PCOS and the mechanism underlying this pathogenesis remain unclear. Clarifying these issues could help to understand the occurrence and development of PCOS in women with circadian rhythm disturbance
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