Beneficial Effects of Curcumin on Rats with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Evaluation of the Gene Expression of GLUT4, Erα and Insulin Resistance

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in the women and animals. Some common hormonal therapies are used to treat the PCOS condition. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of curcumin on rats with PCOS by evaluation of the gene expression of the GLUT4 and Erα and insulin resistance. Methods: Following induction of PCOS, sixty Sprague–Dawley female rats were divided into four groups including: (1) Control group (2) Control PCOS (3 & 4) those treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg of curcumin respectively. Body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin serum (FIS), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and gene expression of GLUT4 and Erα were evaluated. Results: Induction of PCOS increased body weight, FBG, FIS, HOMA-IR and decreased gene expression of GLUT4 and Erα (P<0.05), but oral administration of curcumin could alleviate adverse effects of PCOS on the mentioned parameters (P<0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that curcumin alleviates adverse effects of PCOS. It can be recommended to use the curcumin for the treatment of patients with PCOS.