Carvacrol regulates the expression of genes involved in the Tgf-β/Smads signaling pathway in a rat model of POI

Nazdikbin Yamchi, Nahideh; Ahmadian, Shahin; Amjadi, Farhad; Bakhshi, Omeh Leyla; Rahbarghazi, Reza; Mahdipour, Mahdi

doi:10.22034/jrb.2024.379

Carvacrol regulates the expression of genes involved in the Tgf-β/Smads signaling pathway in a rat model of POI

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Nahideh Nazdikbin Yamchi ¹

Shahin Ahmadian ¹

Farhad Amjadi ¹

Omeh Leyla Bakhshi ²

Reza Rahbarghazi ¹^{, 3}

Mahdi Mahdipour ¹^{, 4}

¹ Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

² Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran

³ Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

⁴ Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

10.22034/jrb.2024.379

Abstract

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), an abnormal ovarian function has been documented in females. Besides, the clinical treatment of POI patients is not completely satisfactory. The blunting effects of Carvacrol in Cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) were studied in rats.
Firstly, animals received CTX for two consecutive weeks to induce the POI model. Once the POI model was confirmed, the intervention group was injected with 80 mg/kbw Carvacrol for 5 days. Four weeks after the last injection, serum samples were collected for hormonal evaluation, and tissue samples were isolated and analyzed for histopathology evaluation and the expression of TGF-β/Smad pathway genes.
Data showed CTX injection altered FSH and LH hormones (p>0.05). Following Carvacrol injection, FSH and LH levels were diminished (p<0.05). Histopathological evaluation revealed the increase of morphologically healthy follicles (p<0.05). The transcription of Smad pathway genes such as Smad 2,-4, and TGF-β1 were induced after CTX injection related to control rats (p>0.05). However, after Carvacrol intervention, the gene expression was modulated, and a statistically significant decrease in Smad 6 expression was observed (p<0.05).
Carvacrol administration can restore sex hormone levels, improve follicular morphology, and modulate the expression of Smad pathway genes.

Keywords

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

Monoterpenoid phenol

Fibrosis

Ovarian Regeneration

Reproduction