OBJECTIVETo establish a rat model of polycystic ovarian syndrome accompanied with insulin resistance (PCOS-IR), and to observe the effects of Bushen Tongmai Recipe (BSTMR) on insulin resistance and ovulation dysfunction in the model.

METHODSSodium prasterone sulfate at the daily dose of 9 mg/100 g was subcutaneously injected to female SD rats, 23-day old, for 20 days, and fed with high-fat forage for 80 days to establish the rat model of PCOS-IR. The model rats were randomized into the model group and the treated group administered with BSTMR. Besides, a group consisted of 15 healthy rats was set up as a normal control. Ovarian histological changes and ovulation condition in rats were examined with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining; fasting blood glucose (FBG) was determined by glucose oxidase method; serum levels of fasting insulin (FINS), serum testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteotrophic hormone (LH) were detected by radioimmunoassay (RIA).

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, in the model group, the mean number of corpus luteum, ovulation rate, FSH level and insulin sensitive index (ISI) were lower significantly (P <0.01), and levels of FBG, FINS, T, E2 and LH were higher (P<0.05, P <0.01). Compared with the model group, in the treated group, the mean number of corpus luteum, ovulation rate, levels of FSH and ISI were higher, and levels of FINS, T and E, were lower (all P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONRat model of PCOS-IR could be established by sodium prasterone sulfate and high-fat forage, and the insulin resistance and ovulation dysfunction in the model rats could be improved by BSTMR.