The Protective Effect of Echinochrome A on Extracellular Matrix of Vocal Folds in Ovariectomized Rats.

Ji Min Kim,Keunyoung Kim,Sergey A Fedoreyev,Jeong Hun Kim,Natalia P Mishchenko,Byung-Joo Lee,Gi Cheol Park,Sung-Chan Shin,Elena A Vasileva,Hyoung Kyu Kim,Jin Han,Hyung Sik Kim,Valentin A Stonik

doi:10.3390/md18020077

Abstract

Here, we investigated the effects of sex hormones on extracellular matrix (ECM)-related gene expression in the vocal fold lamina propria of ovariectomized (after ovary removal) rats and verified whether echinochrome A (ECH) exerts any therapeutic effects on ECM reconstitution after estrogen deficiency in ovariectomized rats. Sprague–Dawley female rats (9 weeks old) were acclimatized for a week and randomly divided into three groups (n = 15 each group) as follows: group I (sham-operated rats, SHAM), group II (ovariectomized rats, OVX), group III (ovariectomized rats treated with ECH, OVX + ECH). Rats from the OVX + ECH group were intraperitoneally injected with ECH at 10 mg/kg thrice a week after surgery for 6 weeks. And rats were sacrificed 6 weeks after ovariectomy. Estradiol levels decreased in OVX group compared with the SHAM group. ECH treatment had no effect on the levels of estradiol and expression of estrogen receptor β (ERβ). The evaluation of ECM components showed no significant changes in elastin and hyaluronic acid levels between the different groups. Collagen I and III levels were lower in OVX group than in SHAM group but increased in OVX + ECH group. The mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, -8, and -9 were significantly higher in the OVX group than in the SHAM group, but decreased in the OVX + ECH group. Thus, changes were observed in ECM-related genes in the OVX group upon estradiol deficiency that were ameliorated by ECH administration. Thus, the vocal fold is an estradiol-sensitive target organ and ECH may have protective effects on the ECM of vocal folds in ovariectomized rats.

Highlights

Sex hormones are major factors that influence the activity of the vocal fold and voice production.Voice, a secondary sex characteristic, varies between males and females and changes with sexualVoice, a secondary sex characteristic, varies between males and females and changes with sexual maturation
Col3a1 gene expression was significantly upregulated in the OVX group compared to that in SHAM group, but its expression in the OVX + echinochrome A (ECH) group was similar to that reported in the OVX group (Figure 4F). These results reveal that ECH treatment increases the protein expression of collagen I via upregulation in the expression gene expression was significantly upregulated in the OVX group compared to that in SHAM group, Mar
We observed changes in genes expression associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) production and degradation in the lamina propria of the vocal fold after the induction of menopause by ovariectomy in a rat experimental model

Summary

Introduction

Sex hormones are major factors that influence the activity of the vocal fold and voice production.Voice, a secondary sex characteristic, varies between males and females and changes with sexualVoice, a secondary sex characteristic, varies between males and females and changes with sexual maturation. Sex hormones are major factors that influence the activity of the vocal fold and voice production. A secondary sex characteristic, varies between males and females and changes with sexual. A secondary sex characteristic, varies between males and females and changes with sexual maturation. Female voice is closely related to changes in female sex hormones. Laryngeal changes evident and systematically fluctuate during the reproductive yearsyears withwith the menstrual cycle andand affect are evident and systematically fluctuate during the reproductive the menstrual cycle voice changes throughout life [1,2]

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