Effects of Evening Primrose Oil on NLRP3 Inflammatory Pathway in PCOS Model Rats

OBJECTIVE  To investigate the effect and mechanism of evening primrose oil(EPO) on NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS) model rats.

METHODS  Six-week-old SD rats were fed with letrozole combined with high-fat diet for 21 days to establish PCOS model. After forming the model, different doses of EPO were given to measure body mass, fasting plasma glucose(FPG) and estrus cycle. The levels of fasting insulin(FINS), luteinizing hormone(LH) and other hormones were determined by ELISA. The apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells was detected by TUNEL method. The morphological changes of ovary were observed by HE staining. Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect NLRP3, ASC, TNF-α, IL-18 and other proteins in ovarian tissue.

RESULTS  Compared with PCOS model group, after intervention with EPO, body weight, FPG and LH levels of PCOS rats were significantly improved(P<0.05), polycystic ovarian disease was alleviated, and the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, TNF-α, IL-18 and other inflammatory factors were significantly decreased, with statistical significance.

CONCLUSION  EPO can improve the ovarian tissue morphology of PCOS rats, reduce the levels of FPG, FINS, LH and other hormones in serum, and may improve the chronic inflammation of PCOS by regulating the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway.