The Combined Effects of Leptin And Coenzyme Q10 in Ameliorating Obesity-Induced Infertility in Female Rats

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

4-7-2016

Description

Infertility is one of the major complications of obesity. Studies have shown that administration of leptin modulated the expression of Β-catenin in the ovary and reversed obesity-induced infertility in rats. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an antioxidant, supplies the energy used for ovulation, oocyte and embryo development and prevents DNA damage that causes infertility. We hypothesized that leptin when combined with CoQ10 could greatly improve fertility. Twenty-one female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study and divided into five treatments groups. Group I rats was fed rat chow diet (RCD) while groups II to V were fed High-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks to induce infertility. Group 1 RCD and group II HFD control rats received 1 ml of saline intraperitoneally (i.p.) twice daily for 2 days, group III HFD rats received 1 ml of 100 µg of leptin i.p. twice daily for 2 days, group IV HFD rats received 10 mg/kg of CoQ10 i.p. for 2 weeks plus saline twice daily for 2 days. Group V HFD rats received 1 ml of 100 µg of leptin i.p. twice daily for 2 days plus 10 mg/kg of CoQ1o i.p. for 2 weeks. Estrous cycle was checked daily and food intake and body weight measured twice weekly before and after treatments. Fourteen days post treatment, all the animals were sacrificed. The blood and tissues were collected for analysis. The results show a significant decrease in food intake and body weight and regular estrous cycle restored in groups III and V rats. There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in spleen weight in groups IV and V. FSH level increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the leptin plus CoQ10 treated group while CoQ10 level was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the leptin-treated group. Β-catenin expression was decreased in group IV and V, suggesting that Β-catenin expression may be downregulated by COQ10 administration. These results indicate that synergistic action of leptin and CoQ10 could delay the onset of obesity-induced infertility exhibited by the reduction of food intake and body weight. In conclusion, combinations of CoQ10 with leptin can improve fertility in obese infertile female rats and could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of female infertility.

Location

Johnson City, TN

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