ABSTRACT
The success of a pregnancy relies on moderate trophoblast apoptosis. If the 'inhibition-induction' balance of apoptosis is broken, a pathological pregnancy may occur. Galectin-3 has an important role in numerous biological processes, including tumor cell apoptosis. However, the association between galectin-3 and missed abortion (MA) has remained elusive. In the present study, the mRNA and protein expression levels of galectin-3 in placental villi, and the apoptotic index of placental cells from patients with MA were assessed and compared with those in a normal spontaneous abortion group. The present study investigated the function of galectin-3 in the process of MA and the possible association between placental apoptosis and galectin-3 expression in MA patients. Furthermore, the role of galetin-3 in patients with MA at different times (<4 and >4 weeks) was explored. The present study provided a potential mechanism of MA from a perspective of apoptosis and also provided potential therapeutic approaches to prevent MA.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutical effects of visfatin and metformin on insulin resistance and reproductive endocrine disorder in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Forty female Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups, and in groups A, B and C, the rats were injected subcutaneously with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for PCOS modeling, with group D as the blank control injected with soybean oil. Vaginal smears and serological testing were taken to assess the modeling. After the modeling, the rats in group A received 10 µg reorganized visfatin injection and those in group B were treated with metformin (14 mg/100 g) on a daily basis for 15 days. Serum levels of T, LH, FSH, FINS and blood glucose levels during OGTT were measured before and after the treatments, and HOMA-IR and LH to FSH ratio were calculated. The ovaries were then dissected for pathological examination. RESULTS: In groups A and B, FINS, FPG, T, HOMA-IR and blood glucose levels during OGTT were significantly decreased after the treatments (P<0.05), which resulted in recovery of regular menses in 8 (80%) rats in group A and 7 (77.8%) rats in group B with the development of normal follicles. Visfatin and metformin produced equivalent therapeutic effects in improving the insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in PCOS rats. CONCLUSION: Visfatin and metformin have equivalent therapeutic effects in improving insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism and in promoting the recovery of regular menses and development of normal follicles in PCOS rats.
