The effect of aerobic exercise and resveratrol on gene expression of SIRT1 and TNF-α in ovarian of mice with poly cystic ovary

Background and Objective: Obesity and inactivity lead to chronic low-grade inflammation, which is associated with ovarian dysfunction. Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise and resveratrol on the gene expression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and TNF-α (Tumor necrosis factor-α) in ovarian of mice with PCOS.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 female C57bl/6 mice, 8 weeks old, were randomly divided: healthy-control, patient-control, exercise-patient, resveratrol-patient, and exercise-resveratrol-patient groups. PCOS was induced by gavage of 60 mg/kg dihydroepiandrosterone for 20 days. Resveratrol was injected intra-peritoneally at a dose of 3.75 mg/kg body weight daily for 8 weeks. The exercise program included running on a treadmill at a speed of 9 m/min for 25 minutes in the first week with a 1°incline, which was gradually increased to a speed of 22 m/min for 55 minutes with an 8° incline in the eighth week. Data analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc statistical tests (P<0.05).
Results: With PCOS induction, TNF-α gene expression was significantly increased and SIRT1 gene expression was significantly decreased in ovarian tissue (P<0.000). Both aerobic exercise and resveratrol interventions resulted in down-regulation of TNF-α gene expression and increased SIRT1 gene expression, but the effect of the combined intervention on these changes was greater compared to the other two interventions (P<0.000).
Conclusion: It seems that both aerobic exercise and resveratrol supplementation interventions can protect ovarian tissue against PCOS-induced damage through down-regulation of TNF-α gene expression and increased SIRT1 gene expression.