---

  Background & Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the major endocrine disorders among females. PCOS is associated with development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on glycemic status and high sensitive C-reactive protein in women with PCOS.

  Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 61 PCOS patients. Subjects in ω-3 fatty acids (n=30) and placebo (n=31) groups take 4 ω-3 fatty acids capsules (each one contained 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg docosahexanoic acid) or placebo daily for 8 weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical measurments and food intakes were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study.

  Results: ω-3 fatty acid supplementation caused significant decrease in serum levels of glucose, insulin (p < 0.001 for both) and insulin resistance (p = 0.002) at the end of the study in comparision with baseline values. This was also statistically significant compared to the placebo group (p < 0.001, p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively). No statistically significant differences in serum levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein were obsereved in any of groups at the end of the study (p > 0.05).

  Conclusion: ω-3 fatty acid supplementation had some beneficial effects on glycemic status of PCOS patients and may be useful in prevention and control of metabolic conmplication of this syndrome.

---

Background & objectives: PCOS is one of the most prevalent endocrinology disorders and 5-15% of women in fertility age suffer from this disease. The leptin a 167 amin oacid peptide is secreted from adipose tissue in a pulsatile fashion. This hormone is essential in regulation of normal body weight and like the klotho hormone that is expressed most prominently in the distal convoluted tubules of kidneys and the choroid plexus of brain, has a role in pathogenesis of reproductive disorders. The secreted klotho has been identified as an anti-aging and anticancer hormone. Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic drug with anorexic properties that could influence the function of ovaries.

Methods: In this case-control study, 45 patients with PCOS who referred to the infertility center of Jahad-e-Daneshgahi in the city of Ardabil from March 2013 through March 2014, were selected in accordance with the NIH criteria. Moreover, 45 healthy women were also selected as the control group. BMIs were calculated by division of weight by square of height and insulin resistance index was calculated by HOMA-IR model. Leptin and klotho serum levels were measured using ELISA kit. In the case group the measurements were repeated after a one-month course of therapy with metformin. Data analysis performed by SPSS software using dependent and independent t-tests.

Results: PCOS patients showed significant improvements after receiving metformin for one month.
Patients’ weights showed some decline. Fasting plasma glucose levels and insulin resistance decreased significantly (p<0.01). Hormonal assays indicated significant decrease in leptin and insulin levels and rise in Klotho levels. BMIs did not change meaningfully. Measurements of leptin and klotho levels showed a decrease in mean leptin levels from 34.74 to 28.41 ng/l and the level of klotho increased from 4.01 to 5.43 ng/l.

Conclusion: This study showed that metformin treatment can cause a rise in klotho and a decrease in leptin levels without considerable effects on the weights of women with PCOS. Probably, leptin exerts its physiological effects in low concentrations while klotho in contrast acts physiologically in higher concentrations.

---

Background & objectives: Artemisia absinthium (known as wormwood) is used as an antihelminthical, antimalarial, antiseptic and  anti-inflammatory agent, and is used for treatment of gastric pain in the traditional medicine. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of A. absinthium on the ovary tissues and pituitary_gonadal axis of the adult female NMRI mice.
Methods: In this experimental study, intraperitoneally (IP) injections of hydroalcoholic extract of A. absinthium, were performed over 30 days on 50 mice with 50 (first group), 100 (second group), and 150 mg/kg.bw (third group) doses.  The sham group was received distilled water and control group received no injection. After 30 days of injections, the animals were dissected, and blood samples were collected by heart aspiration.  The levels of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone of serum were measured by ELISA method. Seven µm sections of ovary were prepared by a microtome and stained by H&E method. Data were analyzed by One-Way ANOVA and Tukey post- hoc test. The Significance level was set at p<0.05.       
Results: Our findings indicated a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the body weight in all experimental groups compared with sham and control groups. In parameters such as: large and small diameters of the ovary , number of primary, secondary, growing, graafian follicles, and corpus luteum, a significant decrease was observed in 100 and 150 mg/kg doses (p<0.05). In all experimental groups, no significant changes were observed in estradiol and progesterone levels. However, FSH and LH showed a significant decrease in 100 and 150 mg/kg doses (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that Artemisia absinthium hydroalcohlic extract in high doses has damaging effects on the process of oogenesis, which may be due to α and β Thujoun, Alkaloid and Saponin constituents in this plant. 
 

---

 
Background & objectives: Oxaliplatin is a third-generation of platinum drug which is the main therapeutic agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Oxaliplatin not only inhibits DNA replication but also transcription and also induces apoptosis or necrosis in cancer cells and rapidly dividing cell lines. Although it is widely used clinically, there is no enough information regarding its effect on ovarian structure. This study was designed to determine morphometric features of 30- and 60-day-old offspring ovaries using precise and unbiased stereological technique following administration of oxaliplatin during perinatal period in mice.
Methods: In the present experimental study, 32 adult female mice were used for experimental (pre-pregnant, pregnant and lactation) and control groups. Mice were placed in separate cages for mating. Control group received 0.2 ml saline intraperitoneally (IP) during 21 days of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and lactation periods. Experimental groups including pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and lactation groups received 3 mg/kg oxaliplatin thrice in a week IP during 21 days before mating, during pregnancy and lactation periods, respectively. At the 30th and 60th postnatal days (PND), the offspring were euthanized and the ovaries from eight offspring in each group were collected for stereological analysis.
Results: The results showed that the mean volume oocytes of antral and preantral follicles and also the mean volume of antral follicles were decreased in experimental groups in comparison with the control group in 30 PND offspring (p<0.05). In 60 PND, offspring, the total volume of follicles, mean volume of antral follicles and also mean volume of oocyte of antral follicles in experimental groups showed significant decrease in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). Total volume of ovary, cortical volume and mean volume of preantral follicles decreased in pregnant experimental group compared to control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The present results demonstrated that oxaliplatin induces adverse effect on the morphometrical features of the ovary following administration during the perinatal period especially in pregnancy time.

---

 
Background & objectives: Vincristine (VIN) is a broad-spectrum anticancer drug has been used to treat various cancers. Resveratrol (Res) is a natural polyphenol found in many plant sources. Many studies have reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of resveratrol. We have explored the protective effect of resveratrol on vincristine-induced oxidative stress in mouse ovarian tissue.
Methods: In this study, 32 female mice weighing 25-30 grams were randomly divided into four groups (each group n=8): 1- control group, 2- Vin- group, 3- Vin-Res group and 4- Res group. The mice received a single IP injection of vincristine (3 mg/kg) weekly for 4 weeks. Res treatment was done 28 days by gastric gavage (daily 30 mg/kg).At the end of the study, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes were measured in ovarian tissue and uterus of the studied animals. Also, ovarian follicles were counted.
Results: The results indicated that the MDA level was elevated and TAC, GPx as well as SOD activities were decreased in Vin- group significantly. Resveratrol reduced MDA level and increased GPx and SOD activities in Vin-Res group significantly. Also histological findings showed that Res increased primordial and primary follicles and reduced atretic  follicles in Vin-Res group significantly.
Conclusions: These results indicate the protective effect of resveratrol on ovarian and uterine tissue against oxidative damage of vincristine in mice