3.1. Effects of beta-glucan on ovarian, uterus, and body weights
The right ovary weight, uterine weight, and total genital weight of the PCOS group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The uterus and ovarian weights of the control, PCOS, P + βTG, and βTG groups did not differ statistically (Fig. 1).
3.2. Effects of beta-glucan on estrous cycle
The fractional survival data between the groups shows that the sexual cycles obtained proceed in a particular order. There was no deviation in the control, βTG, and PCOS + βTG groups. A significant deviation was observed in the PCOS group (Fig. 2).
The estrous cycle is examined in four consecutive periods. In the first period (proestrus), nucleated epithelial cells are dense. These cells can be seen together or separately. In some areas, cornified cells can be seen. The second period (estrus) is characterized by cornified squamous epithelial cells. Cells often appear in clumps. In the third period (metestrus), leukocytes are usually dominant. A collection of cornified cells with a few nucleated epithelia is seen. In the fourth period (diestrus), leukocytes increase (Fig. 3).
3.3. Effects of beta-glucan on hormone levels
Reproductive hormone levels were determined to examine the relationship between βTG and PCOS further. AMH has the feature of inhibiting follicle formation and causes androgen production indirectly by inhibiting FSH activity or by blocking aromatase activity. Thus, the concentration of AMH in the serum is proportional to the number of antral follicles and menstrual disorders. AMH levels are high in women with PCOS. Serum levels of AMH, T, and LH were significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the control group. The increased levels of LH, testosterone, and androstenedione in the serum, yet low or normal FSH levels and abnormal estrogen secretion, have created an endocrine profile accepted by many researchers in PCOS. In this study, we found a significant decrease in serum levels of FSH in the PCOS group compared to the control group. The PCOS group significantly increased AMH, LH, and T serum levels. Serum levels of FSH were found to be substantially reduced in the PCOS group compared with the P + βTG and βTG groups. The prevalent PCOS symptoms of hyperandrogenism and excessive LH production are signs that the PCOS model was developed successfully in the current study. In PCOS rats, treatment with βTG dramatically decreased the LH, AMH, and T blood levels, demonstrating that βTG could raise the levels of PCOS' reproductive hormones (Fig. 4). These findings suggested that βTG might have a correcting impact on a female's reproductive endocrine.
3.4. Effects of beta-glucan on cytokines
It was discovered how βTG affected the expression of inflammatory cytokines (Figure. 5).
3.5. Biochemical results
In Table 2, the biochemical outcomes were displayed. SOD activity and TBARS levels between the control and βTG groups, as well as between the PCOS + βTG groups, were not significantly different. TBARS was considerably lower in the control group compared to the PCOS group. In comparison to the PCOS group, SOD activity was noticeably higher in the control group. The control, PCOS + βTG, and βTG groups all had considerably higher GSH and CAT levels and GPx activity than the PCOS group (Fig. 6).
3.6. Histopathological results
Table 3 provides the histopathologic damage score. The treatment groups' ovarian morphologies varied significantly from one another.
Table 3
The difference in ovarian tissue's histological grade between the groups.
Groups | Histopathological score (Mean ± SE) |
Control | 0.30 ± 0.07a |
PCOS | 2.04 ± 0.12b |
PCOS + βTG | 1.20 ± 0.08c |
βTG | 0.77 ± 0.06a |
The treatment groups' ovarian morphologies varied significantly. The histological appearance of the ovaries in the control (Fig. 7A, 7B) and βTG (Fig. 7C, 7D) groups was normal. In the control and βTG groups, various follicle types and corpus luteum were seen in the ovary with a normal histological appearance. Secondary follicles (Fig. 7A, 7C) and multilaminate primary follicles (Fig. 6B, 6D) were observed in the control and βTG groups.
Atretic follicles were found (thick black arrows) (Fig. 8A, 8C, 8D), vascular congestion (black asterisks) (8A, 8B, 8C, 8D), mononuclear cell infiltration (white asterisks) (Fig. 8B, 8D), vacuolization (Fig. 8D, 8E), edema (Fig. 8D), hemorrhage in corpus luteum (Fig. 8E) were observed.
As opposed to the PCOS group, the PCOS + βTG group had significantly worse ovarian follicle shape, fewer mononuclear cell infiltration, atretic follicles, vacuolization, vascular congestion, edema, and bleeding. Different secondary follicles (white arrows) (Fig. 9A, Fig. 9B) were observed in the PCOS + βTG group.
3.7. Immunohistochemistry results
Figure 10 shows the immunohistochemistry expression of caspase-3. The PCOS + βTG group had fewer stained (positive) cells than the PCOS group.
3.8. Protein array results
Protein profiles of rat growth factor, cytokine, and chemokine arrays in control, PCOS, P + βTG, and βTG groups were analyzed (Fig. 11). Cluster analysis of all proteins revealed that the controls, PCOS, P + βTG and βTG clustered together (Fig. 11A). Principal component analysis showed a separate distribution for PCOS and all the other experimental groups (PC1: 50.7% and PC2: 26.4%) (Fig. 11B). Correlation coefficient analysis was used to demonstrate the beneficial activity of βTG. Compared to the control, the stand-alone βTG application exhibited correlation coefficient values of 0.72 and 0.75, respectively (Fig. 11C).
The chemokine profile demonstrated a separation of PCOS from other experimental groups (Fig. 12A). Similar outcomes for principal component analysis were attained (PC1: 59% and PC2: 39.1%) (Fig. 12B). Control and P + βTG had a 0.71 correlation coefficient value (Fig. 12C), confirming the cluster and PCA analysis.
P + βTG was separated from all experimental groups according to the cluster analysis in the growth factor array (Fig. 13A). Similar results (PC1: 92.2% and PC2: 5.7%) were attained (Fig. 13B). Correlation coefficient analysis demonstrated the beneficial effect of βTG. Stand-alone P + βTG and βTG had a 0.78 correlation coefficient value (Fig. 13C).
In the cytokine 1 array analysis, the groups’ control, PCOS, P + βTG, and βTG were all grouped (Fig. 14A). Similar outcomes for principal component analysis were attained (PC1: 71.5% and PC2: 18.4%) (Fig. 14B). Control and P + βTG had a 0.84 correlation coefficient value (Fig. 14C).
PCOS group was separated from all experimental groups in the cytokine 2 array (Fig. 15A, 15B). Control was clustered separately (PC1: 66.7% and PC2: 22.7%) (Fig. 15B). According to correlation coefficient analysis, experimental groups did not correlate (Fig. 15C).
βTG adminisration increased bNGF, TIMP-1, TNF-α, CINC-1, BDNF and bFGF leves in ovary tissues. βTG treatment decreased CTACK, LIX, and PDGF-AA (Fig. 16).