Background: Oxidative stress is known to play a key role in the occurrence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common cause of anovulatory infertility. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether diminished activity of ovarian enzymes responsible for hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) production, cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) contributes to oxidative stress in PCOS. The study also explored whether administration of sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH), an H₂S donor, could ameliorate PCOS symptoms by reducing oxidative stress.
Methods: The rats were randomly assigned into three groups (n=6): control, PCOS, and PCOS+NaSH. PCOS was induced by intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate in the PCOS and PCOS+NaSH groups. The PCOS+NaSH group received 30 μmol/L/day of NaSH in drinking water for 27 days after PCOS induction. Ovarian tissue samples were analyzed for oxidative stress indices including malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Additional analyses measured H₂S levels, CBS, and CSE activity.
Results: PCOS induction led to a significant decrease in SOD activity, H₂S levels, and CBS and CSE activity, accompanied by a significant increase in MDA levels (p<0.0001). Furthermore, PCOS caused severe histological alterations in the ovaries. However, administration of NaSH effectively restored all measured parameters to pre-PCOS induction levels (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: This study showed that the decrease in the activity of H₂S-producing enzymes and H₂S levels may contribute to oxidative stress in PCOS. Therefore, administration of H₂S donor NaSH can be considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for PCOS patients.