Fish oil and wheat-germ oil supplementation restores ovarian function in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder and has a profound impact on women’s reproductive health. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of a mixture of fish oil (FO) and wheat-germ oil (WGO) on ovarian dysfunction in diabetic rats. Female Albino rats were divided into control, diabetic and FO–WGO-diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg kg–1 streptozotocin (STZ). Three weeks later, rats were given oral supplement of 0.4 g kg–1 oil mix (1000 mg FO + 100 mg WGO) daily for 3 weeks. Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, the GSH : oxidised glutathione (GSSG) ratio and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) activities. Ovary function was indicated by serum concentrations of FSH, oestradiol (E2), LH, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), ovary histopathology and follicle counts. Anti-inflammatory properties were detected by measuring nuclear factor (NF)-κB in follicular cells by immunohistochemistry. FO–WGO supplementation enhanced CAT, SOD and GPx activities and raised GSH levels and the GSH : GSSG ratio. Supplementation also increased FSH, E2, LH and AMH levels and follicle counts. Moreover, NF-kB expression and MDA were reduced. These findings indicate that FO–WGO supplementation preserved ovarian function in STZ-induced diabetic rats.