Ameliorative effect of Fagonia indica-coated chitosan nanoparticles on the ovulatory pattern in PCOS rat model

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with wide-range prevalence, affecting 5-18% of females of reproductive age, and its substantive role as a primary etiological factor in anovulatory infertility, with up to 80% of such cases attributed to this syndrome having particular significance.

The current research delineates the outcomes of a meticulous inquiry into the efficacy of Fagonia indica-coated chitosan nanoparticles (FICNPs) in ameliorating the prevalent and clinically consequential PCOS in female Wistar rats.

FICNPs were synthesized by using a methanolic extract of F. indica and chitosan via the ion gelatin method. The nuanced interplay of hormonal profiles, ovarian histology, and miRNA expression in response to FICNPs intervention was investigated. Notable findings include an obvious decrease in luteinizing (LH) and testosterone hormone levels with high-dose FICNPs-treated subjects (100 mg/kg) compared to their untreated counterparts.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin levels were markedly decreased in the untreated PCOS rat models, whereas, histopathological examination revealed augmented oocyte diameters in FICNP-treated rats, suggesting pronounced improvements in ovarian morphogenesis and follicular maturation. Additionally, real-time quantitative PCR analysis revealed disparate miRNA expression profiles, prominently implicating rno-miR-30c-2-3p, rno-miR-146b-5p, rno-miR-486, and rno-miR-3586-3p in the therapeutic efficacy of FICNPs. Notably, the progeny of FICNPs-treated subjects (F1 generation) showed normalized ovulatory activity, substantiating the sustained therapeutic potential of FICNPs.

Collectively, these findings underscore the auspicious promise of FICNPs as a paradigm-shifting therapeutic modality for mitigating the complex pathophysiology of PCOS, thereby addressing its formidable prevalence and clinical import, with the potential to surpass conventional pharmacotherapy modalities.