scholarly journals Vitex agnus-castusL. (Verbenaceae) Improves the Liver Lipid Metabolism and Redox State of Ovariectomized Rats

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franciele Neves Moreno ◽  
Lilian Brites Campos-Shimada ◽  
Silvio Claudio da Costa ◽  
Rosângela Fernandes Garcia ◽  
Alessandra Lourenço Cecchini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Liver Lipid ◽  
Redox Status ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ovx Rats ◽  
Agnus Castus ◽  
General Improvement ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Fat Liver

Vitex agnus-castus(VAC) is a plant that has recently been used to treat the symptoms of menopause, by its actions on the central nervous system. However, little is known about its actions on disturbances in lipid metabolism and nonalcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD), frequently associated with menopause. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats exhibit increased adiposity and NAFLD 13 weeks after ovary removal and were used as animal models of estrogen deficiency. The rats were treated with crude extract (CE) and a butanolic fraction of VAC (ButF) and displayed the beneficial effects of a reduction in the adiposity index and a complete reversion of NAFLD. NAFLD reversion was accompanied by a general improvement in the liver redox status. The activities of some antioxidant enzymes were restored and the mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production was significantly reduced in animals treated with CE and the ButF. It can be concluded that the CE and ButF fromVitex agnus-castuswere effective in preventing NAFLD and oxidative stress, which are frequent causes of abnormal liver functions in the postmenopausal period.

Ameliorative effect of low-dose spironolactone on obesity and insulin resistance is through replenishment of estrogen in ovariectomized rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence A. Olatunji ◽  
Oluwaseun A. Adeyanju ◽  
Olugbenga S. Michael ◽  
Taofeek O. Usman ◽  
Rita C. Tostes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Glycogen Synthase ◽  
Mass Gain ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Atherogenic Dyslipidemia ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ovx Rats ◽  
Ameliorative Effect ◽  
Hormonal Therapies

Women have a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) than men at a similar age but the reverse is the case after menopause, indicating a possible protective effect of estrogen on cardiometabolic function. Although various hormonal therapies have been formulated to combat the CVD risks in postmenopausal state, the beneficial effects have not been consistent. Obesity with insulin resistance (IR) is closely linked to CVD risks while ovariectomized rodents have been shown to mimic a state of obesity and IR. We therefore hypothesized that low-dose spironolactone would ameliorate obesity and IR in estrogen-deprived rats by replenishing estrogen and suppressing elevated glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). Ten-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated (SHM), spironolactone (SPL; 0.25 mg/kg), and ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with or without spironolactone daily for 8 weeks. Results showed that estrogen deprivation through ovariectomy caused increased body mass gain and visceral adiposity that are accompanied by increased HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, 1-hour postload glucose, glucose intolerance, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, plasma insulin, atherogenic dyslipidemia, uric acid, GSK-3, corticosterone, and aldosterone and depressed 17β-estradiol. However, treatment of OVX rats with spironolactone ameliorated all these effects. Taken together, the results demonstrate that treatment with low-dose spironolactone improves obesity and IR, which appears to involve replenishment of estrogen and suppression of GSK-3 along with circulating mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid. The findings imply a positive cardiometabolic effect of low-dose spironolactone usage in estrogen-deprived conditions.

High-impact exercise strengthens bone in osteopenic ovariectomized rats with the same outcome as Sham rats

2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 1032-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akiko Honda ◽  
Naota Sogo ◽  
Seigo Nagasawa ◽  
Takuya Shimizu ◽  
Yoshihisa Umemura
Keyword(s):  
Bone Mass ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ovx Rats ◽  
Jump Exercise ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
The Right

The effect of jump exercise on middle-aged osteopenic rats was investigated. Forty-two 9-mo-old female rats were either sham-operated (Sham) or ovariectomized (OVX). Three months after surgery, the rats were divided into the following groups: Sham sedentary, Sham exercised, OVX sedentary, and OVX exercised. Rats in the exercise groups jumped 10 times/day, 5 days/wk, for 8 wk, with a jumping height of 40 cm. Less than 1 min was required for the jump training. After the experiment, the right tibia and femur were dissected, and blood was obtained from each rat. OVX rats were observed to have increased body weights and decreased bone mass in their tibiae and femurs. Jump-exercised rats, on the other hand, had significantly increased tibial bone mass, strength, and cortical areas. The bone mass and strength of OVX exercised rats increased to approximately the same extent as Sham exercised rats, despite estrogen deficiency or osteopenia. Our data suggest that jump exercise has beneficial effects on lower limb bone mass, strength, bone mineral density, and morphometry in middle-aged osteopenic rats, as well as in Sham rats.

scholarly journals Vitex agnus castus and Some Female Disorders: A Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muna O. Alamoudi ◽  
Yousef F. Bakrshoom
Keyword(s):  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Natural Medicine ◽  
The People ◽  
Agnus Castus ◽  
Fat Liver ◽  
Dopaminergic Antagonists

Vitex agnus castus L., is a deciduous tree which has been utilized in ancient Greece, Iran, Egypt and Rome for over 2500 years for a large variety of female reproductive system health difficulties. In Saudi Arabia, many women have menstrual cycle disturbances and menopausal dysfunction and many have polycystic ovary syndrome at young age. Using Vitex is not in Saudi tradition like other Arab countries. Recently, just few people used this herb for treating some infertility problems. A variety of beneficial effects of this curative herb have been reported in clinical studies, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, anti-diabetic, hormonal modulatory, anti-nociceptive and opioidergic activities, preventing oxidative stress and nonalcoholic fat liver disease. Adverse effects of the plant are mild and reversible. The advantages of this herb as natural medicine attract the people and make it one of best choose and utilize widely in women disorders specially that related with menopauses. Its constituents could interact with dopaminergic antagonists and exhibited progesteronic and estrogenic activities. This brief review introduces this plant to Saudi society and others to expand it usage and discusses the potential effect of the plant to cure some of the women disorders displaying its main ingredients and the side effects.

scholarly journals Beneficial Effects of Total Phenylethanoid Glycoside Fraction Isolated from Cistanche deserticola on Bone Microstructure in Ovariectomized Rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingling Yang ◽  
Shuqin Ding ◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Liu ◽  
Yanhong Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Bone Microarchitecture ◽  
Bone Microstructure ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Hplc Method ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Phenylethanoid Glycoside ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ovx Rats

The present study was designed to estimate the antiosteoporotic activity of total phenylethanoid glycoside fraction isolated from C. deserticola (CDP) on rats induced by ovariectomy (OVX) as well as the related mechanisms. After 3 months of oral administration, the decreased bone mineral density, serum Ca, and P in OVX rats were recovered and the deteriorated trabecular bone microarchitecture was partly improved by CDP (60, 120, and 240 mg/kg) intervention, the activities of bone resorption markers were downregulated, and the bioactive of the bone formation index was upregulated; meanwhile, the content of MDA was declined, and GSH was increased by CDP treatment. Compositionally, 8 phenylethanoid glycoside compounds were identified in CDP, with the total contents quantified as 50.3% by using the HPLC method. Mechanistically, CDP declined the levels of TRAF6, RANKL, and RANK, thus suppressing RANKL/RANK/TRAF6-induced activation of downstream NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways and ultimately preventing activities of the key osteoclastogenic proteins of NFAT2 and c-Fos. All of the above data implied that CDP exhibited beneficial effects on bone microstructure in ovariectomized rats, and these effects may be related to the NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways which were triggered by the binding of RANKL, RANK, and TRAF6.

Effect of exercise training on cardiac oxytocin and natriuretic peptide systems in ovariectomized rats

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. R267-R275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta Gutkowska ◽  
Amélie Paquette ◽  
Donghao Wang ◽  
Jean-Marc Lavoie ◽  
Marek Jankowski
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Training ◽  
Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Inos Mrna ◽  
Chronic Exercise ◽  
Fat Pad ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ovx Rats ◽  
The Right ◽  
Response To Exercise

Exercise training results in cardiovascular and metabolic adaptations that may be beneficial in menopausal women by reducing blood pressure, insulin resistance, and cholesterol level. The adaptation of the cardiac hormonal systems oxytocin (OT), natriuretic peptides (NPs), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in response to exercise training was investigated in intact and ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Ovariectomy significantly augmented body weight (BW), left ventricle (LV) mass, and intra-abdominal fat pad weight and decreased the expression of oxytocin receptor (OTR), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A), in the right atrium (RA) and LV, indicating estrogenic control of these genes. These effects of ovariectomy were counteracted by 8-wk-long exercise training which decreased fat pad weight (33.4 ± 2.3 to 23.4 ± 3.1 g, n = 8, P < 0.05), plasma free fatty acids (0.124 ± 0.033 to 0.057 ± 0.010 mM, n = 8, P < 0.01), and plasma triacylglycerol (0.978 ± 0.174 to 0.588 ± 0.115 mM, n = 8, P < 0.05). Chronic exercise tended to decrease BW and stimulated ANP (4- to 5-fold) and OTR gene expression in the LV and RA and BNP and inducible NOS (iNOS) mRNA in the LV. In sham-operated rats, exercise augmented ANP expression in the RA, downregulated GC-A mRNA in the LV and RA, but increased its expression threefold in the RA of OVX animals. Endothelial NOS and iNOS expression was enhanced in the left atrium of sham-operated rats. Altogether, these data indicate that in OVX animals, chronic exercise significantly enhances cardiac OT, NPs, and NOS, thus implicating all three hormonal systems in the beneficial effects of exercise training.

scholarly journals Beneficial Effects of Tibolone on Blood Pressure and Liver Redox Status in Ovariectomized Rats With Renovascular Hypertension

2012 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 510-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. Gilglioni ◽  
L. B. Campos ◽  
M. C. Oliveira ◽  
R. F. Garcia ◽  
C. R. Ambiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Renovascular Hypertension ◽  
Redox Status ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Beneficial Effects

scholarly journals Effects of Dietary Fatty Acid Composition on Lipid Metabolism and Body Fat Accumulation in Ovariectomized Rats

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2022
Author(s):  
Jhih-Han Yeh ◽  
Yu-Tang Tung ◽  
Yu-Sheng Yeh ◽  
Yi-Wen Chien
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Dietary Fatty Acids ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gene Expressions ◽  
Fat Accumulation ◽  
Ovx Rats

Background: Obesity is a state of excess energy storage resulting in body fat accumulation, and postmenopausal obesity is a rising issue. In this study using ovariectomized (OVX) rats, we mimicked low estrogen levels in a postmenopausal state in order to investigate the effects of different amounts and types of dietary fatty acids on body fat accumulation and body lipid metabolism. Methods: At 9 weeks of age, rats (n = 40) were given an ovariectomy, eight of which were sham-operated to serve as a control group (S). We then divided OVX rats into four different intervention groups: diet with 5% soybean oil (C), and diet with 5% (L), 15% (M), and 20% (H) (w/w) experimental oil, containing 60% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and with a polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio of 5. Results: After OVX, compared to the S group, the C group showed significantly higher body weight, and insulin and leptin levels. Compared to the C group, the H group had lower hepatic triglyceride level and FAS enzyme activity, and higher hepatic ACO and CPT-1 gene expressions and enzyme activities. Conclusions: An OVX leads to severe weight gain and lipid metabolism abnormalities, while according to previous studies, high fat diet may worsen the situation. However, during our experiment, we discovered that the experimental oil mixture with 60% MUFAs and P/S = 5 may ameliorate these imbalances.

scholarly journals Prenylated Isoflavonoids-Rich Extract of Erythrinae Cortex Exerted Bone Protective Effects by Modulating Gut Microbial Compositions and Metabolites in Ovariectomized Rats

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2943
Author(s):  
Hui-Hui Xiao ◽  
Xueli Yu ◽  
Chen Yang ◽  
Chi-On Chan ◽  
Lu Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Microarchitecture ◽  
Cathepsin K ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ovx Rats

Flavonoids, found in a wide variety of foods and plants, are considered to play an important role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Our previous studies demonstrated that Erythrina cortex extract (EC) rich in prenylated isoflavonoids exerted bone protective effects in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The present study aimed to investigate the interactions of gut microbiota with the EC extract to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in its beneficial effects on bone. Sprague-Dawley female rats of 3-months-old were ovariectomized and treated with EC extract for 12 weeks. EC extract reversed ovariectomy-induced deterioration of bone mineral density and bone microarchitecture as well as downregulated cathepsin K (Ctsk) and upregulated runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the tibia of OVX rats. Its protective effects on bone were correlated with changes in microbial richness and the restorations of several genera. EC increased the serum circulating levels of acetate and propionate in OVX rats. We conclude that the bone protective effects of EC extract were associated with the changes in microbial compositions and serum short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in OVX rats.

scholarly journals Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Extract Prevents Dyslipidemia and Hepatic Steatosis in Ovariectomized Rats

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1541
Author(s):  
Naoki Nanashima ◽  
Kayo Horie ◽  
Kanako Yamanouchi ◽  
Toshiko Tomisawa ◽  
Maiko Kitajima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Liver Steatosis ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Ribes Nigrum ◽  
Serum Triglycerides ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Regular Diet ◽  
Ovx Rats ◽  
Abnormal Lipid Metabolism

Estrogen is involved in lipid metabolism. Menopausal women with low estrogen secretion usually gain weight and develop steatosis associated with abnormal lipid metabolism. A previous study showed that blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) extract (BCE) had phytoestrogen activity. In this study, we examined whether BCE improved lipid metabolism abnormalities and reduced liver steatosis in ovariectomized rats, as a menopausal animal model. Twelve-week-old ovariectomized (OVX) rats were fed a regular diet (Ctrl) or a 3% BCE supplemented diet while sham rats were fed a regular diet for three months. Body weight, visceral fat weight, levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol decreased in the BCE-treated OVX and sham rats, but not in OVX Ctrl rats. The results of hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that BCE decreased the diameters of adipocytes and the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. Furthermore, quantitative RT-PCR indicated a decreased expression of hepatitis-related genes, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in OVX rats after BCE treatment. This is the first study that reported improvement of lipid metabolism abnormalities in OVX rats by BCE administration. These results suggest that the intake of BCE alleviated dyslipidemia and prevented nonalcoholic steatohepatitis during menopause in this animal model.

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