Increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in ovary and effect of γ-linolenic acid on adipose tissue inflammation in a polycystic ovary syndrome model

• Published in: Journal of reproductive immunology 2021-08, Vol.146, p.103345-103345, Article 103345
• Main Authors: Prabhu, Yogamaya D., Borthakur, Atreyee, A.G, Subeka, Vellingiri, Balachandar, Valsala Gopalakrishnan, Abilash
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - drug effects; Adipose Tissue - immunology; Adipose Tissue - pathology; Animals; Cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Disease Models, Animal; Female; gamma-Linolenic Acid - pharmacology; gamma-Linolenic Acid - therapeutic use; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - drug therapy; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - pathology; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - immunology; Ovary - pathology; Peri-ovarian adipose tissue; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - complications; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - drug therapy; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - immunology; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - pathology; Rats; γ-Linolenic acid
• ISSN: 0165-0378; 1872-7603
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103345

•The presence of pro-inflammatory environment in the ovaries.•The confirmation of pro-inflammatory environment in peri-ovarian adipose tissue.•Gamma-Linolenic acid attenuates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in peri-ovarian adipose tissue. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a major endocrine disorder, affects the reproductive function of a woman, along with an association with metabolic conditions like insulin resistance and inflammation. The inflammatory nature of PCOS is much debated over, owing to numerous cases of elevation in cytokine levels. Studies have shown the beneficiary effect of Gamma-Linolenic acid (GLA) in reducing inflammation related to many conditions such as atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, arterial disease, obesity, and even PCOS. The study aims at assessing the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the ovary and Peri-ovarian adipose tissue (POAT) of the Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) induced PCOS rat model. Further, this study also evaluates the effect of γ-linolenic Acid (GLA) on these cytokines in POAT. Female Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with 60 mg/kg DHEA daily for 28 days. These PCOS-induced rats were then orally administered with 50 mg/kg GLA for 14 days. The gene expression of cytokines was assessed by Real Time-PCR. The study showed an increase in the expression of cytokines in the ovary and POAT of the DHEA group. This suggests the role of ovarian adipose in adding to the pro-inflammatory state of PCOS. Moreover, the administration of GLA to the PCOS-induced rats resulted in a reduction of cytokine expression from the POAT, indicating that the compound was successful in reducing the associated inflammation. The study throws light on the possibility of using GLA as a supplementary or naturalistic alternative in ameliorating ovarian adipose-associated inflammation that accompanies PCOS.