The Effect of Synbiotic on Ovarian Function and Quality in Cisplatin-induced Premature Ovarian Failure Wistar Rats

Infertility is a significant global challenge, affecting approximately 15% of couples. Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) is one of the primary causes of female infertility. Some new evidence suggests that gut microbiota influences ovarian function. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on POF. In the present experimental animal study, thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: (1) Control group, (2) POF group (cisplatin-induced model), (3) POF-Probiotic group (daily gavage of Saccharomyces boulardii at 1 × 10⁹ CFU), (4) POF-Prebiotic group (daily gavage of inulin at 500 mg/kg), and (5) POF-Synbiotic group (a combination of prebiotic and probiotic). After 28 days, the animals were sacrificed, blood samples were collected, and the ovaries were removed for histological assessment, oxidative stress evaluation, and RT-PCR analysis. In all. Treatment groups in body weight, ovarian tissue index, and folliculogenesis were better than the POF group. Oxidative stress was significantly lower in the synbiotic-treated group compared to other treatments and POF groups. Moreover, synbiotic treatment enhanced the expression of genes involved in folliculogenesis and inhibited apoptosis-related gene expression compared to the POF group. Synbiotic supplementation effectively reduced oxidative stress and ovarian apoptosis while promoting folliculogenesis via upregulation of key genes involved in this process. Consequently, synbiotics may mitigate some of the adverse effects of POF and improve ovarian function in affected rats.