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Metformin and pioglitazone combination therapy ameliorate polycystic ovary syndrome through AMPK/PI3K/JNK pathway

Yuanyuan Wu, Peng-Fen Li, Dan Zhang, Ying-Pu Sun

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 2017

46 citations

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecological endocrine disorder, which results in health problems such as menstrual disorders, hyperandrogenism and persistent anovulation. Hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance are the basic characteristics of PCOS. To investigate the combined effect of metformin and pioglitazone on POCS and the potential mechanisms, a rat model of PCOS was established by intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate (EV). The effect of metformin and pioglitazone monotherapy or combination therapy in control rats and PCOS rats was evaluated, involving the testosterone level, follicular development and insulin resistance. The potential mechanism for the therapeutic effect of metformin and pioglitazone on POCS was explored through using three inhibitors of the 5'adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway (Compound C, Wortmannin and SP600125). The results showed that EV-induced PCOS rats demonstrated hyperandrogenemia, hyperinsulinemia and follicular dysplasia. Metformin or pioglitazone monotherapy significantly suppressed the high level of testosterone, reduced the raised percentage of cystic follicles and primary follicles, promoted the number of early antral follicles, and markedly decreased the high concentration of fasting insulin and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance index in PCOS rats. In addition, metformin and pioglitazone combination…

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