Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency on Proliferation and Autophagy of Ovarian and Liver Tissues in a Rat Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

• Published in: Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 9; no. 9; p. 471
• Main Authors: Lajtai, Krisztina, Nagy, Csilla Terézia, Tarszabó, Róbert, Benkő, Rita, Hadjadj, Leila, Sziva, Réka Eszter, Gerszi, Dóra, Bányai, Bálint, Ferdinandy, Péter, Nádasy, György László, Giricz, Zoltán, Horváth, Eszter Mária, Várbíró, Szabolcs
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 10.09.2019; MDPI AG
• Subjects: autophagy; hyperandrogenism; insulin resistance; oxidative stress; polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); vitamin D; autophagy; hyperandrogenism; insulin resistance; vitamin D; oxidative stress; polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• ISSN: 2218-273X; 2218-273X
• DOI: 10.3390/biom9090471

We aimed to examine the alterations of the insulin signaling pathway, autophagy, nitrative stress and the effect of vitamin D supplementation in the liver and ovaries of vitamin D deficient hyperandrogenic rats. Female Wistar rats received eight weeks of transdermal testosterone treatment and lived on a low vitamin D diet (D-T+). Vitamin D supplementation was achieved by oral administration of vitamin D3 (D+T+). Sham-treated (D+T-) and vitamin D deficient animals (D-T-) served as controls. (N = 10-12 per group). D-T+ animals showed decreased LC3 II levels in the liver and increased p-Akt/Akt and p-eNOS/eNOS ratios with decreased insulin receptor staining in the ovaries. Vitamin D supplementation prevented the increase of Akt phosphorylation in the ovaries. Vitamin D deficiency itself also led to decreased LC3 II levels in the liver and decreased insulin receptor staining in the ovaries. D-T+ group showed no increase in nitrotyrosine staining; however, the ovaries of D-T- rats and the liver of D+T+ animals showed increased staining intensity. Vitamin D deficiency itself might lead to disrupted ovarian maturation and autophagy malfunction in the liver. Preventing Akt phosphorylation may contribute to the beneficial effect of vitamin D treatment on ovarian function in hyperandrogenism.