Semaglutide Alleviates Ovarian Oxidative Stress and Autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Mice with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Sili Guo,* Xiaohan Li,* Mei Liu, Meiqi Feng, Xi Wang, Haibo Xue, Lei Zhang Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou Medicial University, Binzhou, Shandong, People’s Republic of China&am...

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Main Authors: Guo S, Li X, Liu M, Feng M, Wang X, Xue H, Zhang L
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-05-01
Series:Drug Design, Development and Therapy
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/semaglutide-alleviates-ovarian-oxidative-stress-and-autophagy-via-the--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDT
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author Guo S
Li X
Liu M
Feng M
Wang X
Xue H
Zhang L
author_facet Guo S
Li X
Liu M
Feng M
Wang X
Xue H
Zhang L
author_sort Guo S
collection DOAJ
description Sili Guo,* Xiaohan Li,* Mei Liu, Meiqi Feng, Xi Wang, Haibo Xue, Lei Zhang Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou Medicial University, Binzhou, Shandong, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lei Zhang, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, People’s Republic of China, Email binzhouzhanglei@outlook.com Haibo Xue, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, People’s Republic of China, Email xue_haibo@hotmail.comBackground: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a typical reproductive endocrine system disease with high incidence rate among childbearing age women. Several clinical data show that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) might have therapeutic effects on PCOS, but the mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we aim to assess the effects of semaglutide (a weekly preparation of GLP-1RAs) on PCOS in vivo.Methods: C57BL/6J female mice aged 3 weeks were subcutaneously injected with dehydroepiandrosterone and fed high-fat diet for 3 weeks to establish PCOS model. Then, we randomly divided the modeled mice into PCOS group (n=6), S-Low group (n=6), and S-High group (n=6). Additionally, six normal mice served as controls. Mice in S-Low and S-High group were intraperitoneally injected with corresponding dose of semaglutide every week for 4 weeks. The estrus cycle was observed daily. At the end of the experiment, body weight, blood glucose, and serum hormone levels were measured. Ovarian morphology was also observed. Then, the oxidative stress markers, autophagy-related proteins and CYP19A1, StAR, and CYP17A1 expression in ovarian tissue were measured. Finally, we used Western blot to detect the expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and downstream proteins.Results: After treatment with semaglutide, the estrous rhythm of PCOS mice was restored, the number of ovarian vesicles decreased, serum hormone imbalance corrected, and glucose tolerance improved. The relative expression of CYP17A1, StAR, Beclin-1, and LC3B, as well as MDA, were significantly reduced, while CYP19A1, p62, GSH, and SOD were significantly increased. Finally, semaglutide alleviates ovarian oxidative stress and autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.Conclusion: Semaglutide alleviates autophagy and ovarian oxidative stress via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in mice with PCOS.Keywords: polycystic ovary syndrome, semaglutide, oxidative stress, autophagy
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spelling doaj-art-47e58e50395e4b51ba406fe591fcc3212025-06-25T21:33:44ZengDove Medical PressDrug Design, Development and Therapy1177-88812025-05-01Volume 19Issue 142974310103226Semaglutide Alleviates Ovarian Oxidative Stress and Autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Mice with Polycystic Ovary SyndromeGuo S0Li X1Liu M2Feng M3Wang X4Xue H5Zhang L6Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismDepartment of Endocrinology and MetabolismDepartment of Endocrinology and MetabolismDepartment of Endocrinology and MetabolismDepartment of Endocrinology and MetabolismEndocrinology and MetabolismDepartment of Endocrinology and MetabolismSili Guo,* Xiaohan Li,* Mei Liu, Meiqi Feng, Xi Wang, Haibo Xue, Lei Zhang Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou Medicial University, Binzhou, Shandong, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lei Zhang, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, People’s Republic of China, Email binzhouzhanglei@outlook.com Haibo Xue, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, People’s Republic of China, Email xue_haibo@hotmail.comBackground: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a typical reproductive endocrine system disease with high incidence rate among childbearing age women. Several clinical data show that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) might have therapeutic effects on PCOS, but the mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we aim to assess the effects of semaglutide (a weekly preparation of GLP-1RAs) on PCOS in vivo.Methods: C57BL/6J female mice aged 3 weeks were subcutaneously injected with dehydroepiandrosterone and fed high-fat diet for 3 weeks to establish PCOS model. Then, we randomly divided the modeled mice into PCOS group (n=6), S-Low group (n=6), and S-High group (n=6). Additionally, six normal mice served as controls. Mice in S-Low and S-High group were intraperitoneally injected with corresponding dose of semaglutide every week for 4 weeks. The estrus cycle was observed daily. At the end of the experiment, body weight, blood glucose, and serum hormone levels were measured. Ovarian morphology was also observed. Then, the oxidative stress markers, autophagy-related proteins and CYP19A1, StAR, and CYP17A1 expression in ovarian tissue were measured. Finally, we used Western blot to detect the expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and downstream proteins.Results: After treatment with semaglutide, the estrous rhythm of PCOS mice was restored, the number of ovarian vesicles decreased, serum hormone imbalance corrected, and glucose tolerance improved. The relative expression of CYP17A1, StAR, Beclin-1, and LC3B, as well as MDA, were significantly reduced, while CYP19A1, p62, GSH, and SOD were significantly increased. Finally, semaglutide alleviates ovarian oxidative stress and autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.Conclusion: Semaglutide alleviates autophagy and ovarian oxidative stress via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in mice with PCOS.Keywords: polycystic ovary syndrome, semaglutide, oxidative stress, autophagyhttps://www.dovepress.com/semaglutide-alleviates-ovarian-oxidative-stress-and-autophagy-via-the--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDTPolycystic Ovary SyndromeSemaglutideOxidative StressAutophagy
spellingShingle Guo S
Li X
Liu M
Feng M
Wang X
Xue H
Zhang L
Semaglutide Alleviates Ovarian Oxidative Stress and Autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Mice with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Drug Design, Development and Therapy
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Semaglutide
Oxidative Stress
Autophagy
title Semaglutide Alleviates Ovarian Oxidative Stress and Autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Mice with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
title_full Semaglutide Alleviates Ovarian Oxidative Stress and Autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Mice with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
title_fullStr Semaglutide Alleviates Ovarian Oxidative Stress and Autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Mice with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
title_full_unstemmed Semaglutide Alleviates Ovarian Oxidative Stress and Autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Mice with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
title_short Semaglutide Alleviates Ovarian Oxidative Stress and Autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Mice with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
title_sort semaglutide alleviates ovarian oxidative stress and autophagy via the pi3k akt mtor pathway in mice with polycystic ovary syndrome
topic Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Semaglutide
Oxidative Stress
Autophagy
url https://www.dovepress.com/semaglutide-alleviates-ovarian-oxidative-stress-and-autophagy-via-the--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDT
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