The effect of dapsone in testosterone enanthate-induced polycystic ovary syndrome in rat

One of the most common reasons for infertility is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is related to metabolic syndrome, weight gain, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases. Some of the causes of PCOS are dysfunction in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis, insulin activity as well as over-activity of sympathetic nerves and elevation in serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Dapsone, a sulfonamide antibacterial agent, has anti-inflammatory effects such as decreasing inflammatory cytokine levels like TNF-α and IL-1β.

PCOS was induced by subcutaneous injection of testosterone enanthate (1 mg/100 g) in 21 days old female rats for 35 days. Then, the MET control received metformin (300 mg/kg/day, orally) for 28 days, and to evaluate the efficacy of dapsone (DAP), the DAP group received (12.5 mg/kg, orally) for 28 days. Then, on the last day of the study, the rats were euthanized and the blood was collected to measure the serum levels of hormones, glucose, LDL, LDL/HDL and the left ovaries were dissected for histopathological assay.

In the PCOS group, the serum levels of glucose, LDL and LDL/HDL were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.001). In addition, the levels of LH, FSH and testosterone changed in the PCOS group compared to the control (P < 0.001). The histopathological morphology changes of the ovary of the PCOS group were significant. Treatment with dapsone and metformin reversed the effects of testosterone in the DAP and MET groups.

Based on the data, dapsone displayed a good antiandrogenic role via decreasing the testosterone levels in PCOS-induced rats.