Ameliorative Effect of Fenugreek on sex hormones in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Female Rats Induced by Letrozole

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the animal house of the College of Veterinary Medicine/ University of Basrah to investigate the role of the treatment  with metformin  (Met), ethanolic extract of fenugreek (FN) each alone and their combination on the sex hormones changes in polycystic ovary syndrome induced in female rats. For this purpose, the study included two experiment. First experiment aimed to determine  the changes in the hormones concentration of pituitary ovarian axis associated with PCOS, induced by letrozole in rats. Fifty six  adult female rats randomly divided in to two group, first group (n=16) administrated 0.5% carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) 0.2ml/rat/orally by gavage and served as control group and second group (n=40) administered Letrozole (1mg/kg B.W/day) dissolved in 1ml of 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose  (CMC) orally  by gavage for 21 days to induced PCOS. Vaginal smear examination of all female rats was done to ensure the occurrence of PCOS. At the end of the experiment eight rats of each group were sacrificed. Blood samples were collected and serum were separated for hormonal assay. The results revealed a significant increase in serum concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) in PCOS group compared with control group. On other hand a significant decrease in serum concentration of estrogen (E₂), and progesterone (P₄) in PCOS group compared with control.