Evaluation of Telomere Length in Granulosa Cells; Effects of Ketogenic and Western Diet

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to research the effects of nutrition with different diets on the telomere length of granulosa cells.
 Material and Methods: In the study, 21 BALB C female rats (in each group; n = 7) were divided into three groups as the standard diet group (SD), the ketogenic diet group (KD) and the western diet group. The animals in the SD group were fed with standard mouse feed, while the KD and WD groups were fed with specially prepared diets. At the end of the experiment, a controlled superovulation stimulation protocol was applied to both ovaries. Smear preparations were ready for telomere length (GLT) and apoptotic (caspase-3) evaluations from granulosa cells taken from oocytes collected from ovaries. 
 Results: There was a negative correlation between GLT and body weight (r = -0.424; p = 0.056). However, this correlate was not statistically significant. At the end of the experiment, body weight was significantly higher in the WD group compared to the KD group (p<0.05). GTL value of KD group was higher compared to WD and SD groups (p = 0.000). There was a significant negative correlation between Caspase 3 activity and GLT (r = -0.594; p = 0.004). Caspase-3 H score was statistically significantly lower in the KD group compared to SD and WD groups (p <0.05).
 Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was observed that diet types cause changes in GTL, and there was a negative relationship between ¨body weight and caspase-3 activity¨ and GTL. It has also been observed that low KD prevents cells from undergoing apoptosis by increasing GTL and decreasing caspase 3 activity.