Study on the mechanism of Dingkundan targeting and regulating Smad2 in ovarian tissue through microRNA-30d-5p to treat PCOS model rats
Objective To observe the effects of Dingkundan on ovarian tissue morphology,serum sex hormone levels,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),Smad 2,Smad 3,and microRNA-30d-5p expression in polycystic ovary syn-drome(PCOS)model rats,and to further explore the mechanism of Dingkundan's targeted regulation of Smad 2 in ovari-an tissue through microRNA-30d-5p in treating PCOS model rats.Methods DHEA-induced PCOS rat models were treated with low[1.125 g/(kg·d)],medium[2.25 g/(kg·d)]and high[4.5 g/(kg·d)]doses of Dingkundan.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,immunohistochemistry,real time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Western blot were used to detect the ovarian histomorphology,serum sex hormone levels,microRNA-30d-5p expressions,as well as protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-β1,Smad 2 and Smad 3.Results Compared with model group,all Dingkundan treatment groups significantly promoted follicles of all levels and corpus luteum in the ovaries,downregulated the levels of estradiol(E2),luteinizing hormone(LH)and testosterone(T)while in-creasing follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)level,the differences being statistically significant;both protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-β1,Smad 2 and Smad 3 decreased while microRNA-30d-5p expressions increased,both dif-ferences being statistically significant.Conclusions The DHEA-induced PCOS rat model is an ideal animal model for studying ovulation disorders in PCOS.Dingkundan has a certain therapeutic effect on PCOS rats,and its mechanism may be to target and regulate the expression level of Smad 2 in ovarian tissue through microRNA-30d-5p.