Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide ameliorates polycystic ovary syndrome by modulating the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine and metabolic disorders affecting women of reproductive age. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOP) have shown multiple pharmacological activities, but their therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms in PCOS remain incompletely understood. A dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced mouse model of PCOS was established to evaluate the effects of DOP. Estrous cyclicity, ovarian histopathology, serum hormone levels, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analyses were performed to assess reproductive function, endocrine changes, and MAPK/ERK-related signaling. DOP treatment restored estrous cyclicity, improved ovarian morphology, and partially normalized serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone levels. In addition, DOP reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and downregulated the expression of CYP17A1 and CYP19A1. DOP ameliorated reproductive and endocrine abnormalities in a DHEA-induced mouse model of PCOS. The findings suggest that modulation of MAPK/ERK signaling may contribute to the biological effects of DOP, although further mechanistic studies are required to establish causal relationships.