The intervention effect of Lycium barbarum leaves on letrozole-induced PCOS mice based on microbiome
The purpose of this study was to investigate the intervention effect and mechanism of Lycium barbarum leaves on letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)mice.The PCOS model was prepared by letrozole combined with high-fat diet.After successful modeling,40 mice were randomly divided into PCOS group,positive drug metformin group,low-dose Lycium barbarum leaves group,and high-dose Lycium barbarum leaves group.The corresponding drugs were given by gavage for 29 days.At the end of the experiment,the eyeballs were removed for blood collection and ovarian tissue was collected.The ovarian mass,fasting blood glucose(FBG),fasting insulin(FINS),testosterone(T),anti-Mullerian hormone(AMH),luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),and estradiol(E2)levels were measured in each group.The morphology of ovarian tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining,and the oocytes,cystic follicles and corpus luteum were counted.Cecal contents of mice were collected for analysis of intestinal flora composition and differential flora.The animal experiment process was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.The results showed that the estrous cycle of PCOS mice was disordered.Compared with the PCOS group,the Lycium barbarum leaves group can significantly reduce the ovarian damage of mice,reduce the number of cystic dilated follicles,and normalize the estrous cycle.After the intervention of Lycium barbarum leaves,the levels of FBG,FINS,T,AMH,LH,FSH and LH/FSH were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the level of E2 was significantly increased(P<0.001).In addition,Lycium barbarum leaves can regulate the disorder of intestinal flora diversity in PCOS mice,increase the abundance of Bacteroidetes,and reduce the abundance of Firmicutes,Ileibacterium,Romboutsia and Faecalibaculum.In summary,Lycium barbarum leaves can play a therapeutic role in PCOS mice by improving insulin resistance,regulating reproductive hormone disorders and gut microbiota imbalance.It provides scientific basis and useful reference for the rational utilization and development of Lycium barbarum leaves.