Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (15): 2727-2730.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.15.016

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Effects of quercetin on ovarian follicular development and ovarian life span in rats 

Zhuang Xiao-lan1, Fu Yu-cai2, Xu Jin-jie2, Kong Xiao-xia1, Chen Zhen-guo2, Luo Li-li1   

  1. 1 Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou  515041, Guangdong Province, China; 2 Laboratory of Cell Senescence, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou  515041, Guangdong Province, China
  • Online:2010-04-09 Published:2010-04-09
  • Contact: Luo Li-li, Professor, Chief physician, Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China jjxu@stu.edu.cn
  • About author:Zhuang Xiao-lan★, Studying for master’s degree, Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China zxl3511161@163.com
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30772318*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Research demonstrated that some phytoestrogens can change the reproductive system development and may affect the age of reproductive senescence ultimately. Quercetin is a plant-derived flavonoid, which possess weak estrogen effect, however, there is limited evidence that quercetin may has effect on ovarian follicular development or ovarian consenescence.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of quercetin on ovarian follicular development and ovarian life span in rats. 
METHOD: A total of 30 SD rats were caged together with male and female ratio of 2:1, and the neonatal female rates were divided into three groups. ①Intragastric perfusion group, pregnant rats were intragastric administrated quercetin (40 mg/kg.d) on day 10.5 after pregnancy till delivery, and the female rats with 1 d, 2 d and 4 d were selected; ②Intraperitoneal injection group, female neonatal rats were intraperitoneally injected with quercetin within 12 hours after birth, once per day, and 2 d and 4 d female rats were selected; ③Blank control group, 2 d and 4 d female rats were selected without intervention. The ovarian development of rats was observed. Additional 22 female rats were divided into the experimental and control groups according to the number table method. Rats in the experimental group were gastrogavage administered 40 mg/kg quercetin once per day for 4 consecutive months, and rats in the control group were fed with normal saline of same volume instead. Early aged rats were killed after completing administration, uerus and ovaries were weighed to calculate their coefficients and ovarian morphology were observed; In addition, vaginal smears were used to observe estrous cycles patterns.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The percentage of unassembled follicles was decreased and primordial follicles increased in the 1/2-day-old rat’s ovaries of intragastric administration group. The rats oestrus cycles were became irregular before intragastric administration, which exhibited similar oestrus cycles in the experimental and control groups after medication. At month 4 after intragastric administration, the ovaries of rats in the experimental group comprised atretic follicle, primordial follicle, developed follicles, as well as atretic follicles and corpus luteum, and the number was greater than that of the control group (P < 0.05), however, the coefficients of ovarian and uterine and increased body mass had no significant difference between the experimental and control groups. The results demonstrated that quercetin may promote ovarian follicular development and maturity, but no effect on the ovarian life span.

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