Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women during reproductive ages. This syndrome is associated with disruption of sex hormone levels. Studies have shown that endurance of the heart to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury can be affected by sex hormones. In the present study, the rate of cardiac tolerance against I/R injury in the PCOS rat model was compared with normal (control) rats.
Materials and Methods: The rats were randomly divided into two groups; PCOS and control (n=8 per group). The hearts were isolated in Langendorff isolated heart system. Cardiac perfusion was performed in a retrograde flow in the aorta at constant pressure (75 mmHg) by Krebs-Henslit buffer. A pressure (5-10 mmHg) was put to the left ventricle, using an intraventricular balloon, to measure the hemodynamic parameters of the heart. Cardiac signals were recorded while being transmitted through the catheter to the Powerbull system.
Results: Before I/R, the values for cardiac hemodynamic parameters including HR, LVDP, RPP and ± dp/dt, increased in the rat model of PCOS compared to controls, although these increases were not statistically significant (P>0.05). These parameters had decreasing trends after I/R in PCOS rats compared to controls which were not statistically significant (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Cardiac resistance to I/R injury was found to be similar in both PCOS and control animals, which could be due to the cardioprotective role of sex hormones such as estrogens