Empagliflozin as a potential therapy for PCOS: Restoring hormonal balance and ovarian function in a letrozole-induced rat model.

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder that often leads to infertility. The characteristic hyperandrogenemia and elevated luteinizing hormone /follicle stimulating hormone ratio, resulting in ovulation failure, are the hallmarks of PCOS. Recent preclinical and clinical studies revealed the potential of empagliflozin (EMPA; a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor) to improve PCOS symptoms. However, the effects of EMPA on endocrine disturbances and ovarian cyst formation were not thoroughly investigated.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study was to explore the potential of EMPA as a treatment for PCOS.

METHODS

PCOS was induced by daily administration of letrozole (1 mg/kg for 21 days). The PCOS group was then divided into PCOS (untreated), PCOS+EMPA (10 mg/kg), and PCOS + metformin (300 mg/kg). All groups, except for the vehicle-treated group, continued to receive letrozole throughout the 21-day treatment period. Serum and ovaries were collected for various measurements at the end of the experiments.

RESULTS

The results of the study showed that induction of PCOS resulted in high testosterone levels, luteinizing hormone /follicle stimulating hormone ratio, and ovarian weights. Disturbed apoptosis and high transforming growth factor-β and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression were also evident in the PCOS group. EMPA treatment resulted in an ameliorative effect of these changes, comparable to metformin's effect.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that EMPA could be a promising treatment for PCOS in rats, with its protective effect potentially mediated through its ability to restore hormonal imbalance and to restore transforming growth factor-β and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, providing reassurance to the audience about its efficacy.