Phloretin Ameliorates against Bisphenol A Induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, an Endocrine Disrupting Chemical, in Prepubertal Rats

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder whose etiology is not well understood and affecting 9–18% of women in reproductive age. We investigated the protective effects of phloretin against the PCOS, induced Bisphenol A (BPA) on prepubertal rat ovaries. This study started on female rats on the postnatal 28th day via subcutaneous injection by dissolving the compounds in corn oil at 30 min intervals, starting with phloretin, and followed by BPA. The dose of BPA was 50 mg/kg/day, and the doses of phloretin were 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/day. Treatments were administered every day for 15 days. Likewise corn oil, BPA and testosterone propionate were given by the same way. BPA exposed groups, it has been observed that there are many cystic follicles in the ovary and their morphology has changed. Similarly, prolonged diestrus phases was observed in the smear cycle. The CYP11A1 and CYP17A enzymes stained intensively on the BPA group whereas these enzymes were stained weakly in the BPA + 5 and 50 mg/kg phloretin groups. In PCOS, induced by BPA, the cystic follicles were recorded on the ovaries whereas it was decreased in the BPA + phloretin groups. Prepubertal exposure to BPA was associated with decreased serum luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, increased estrogen (ERRα) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in testosterone propiyonat and BPA + phloretin (0.5 mg/kg/day) groups. In conclusion, in rat model, phloretin has positive effects against BPA induced polycystic ovarian syndrome, also it caused positive effects on ovarian tissue and hormone secretion.