OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of bushen tongmai recipe (BSTMR) on mRNA and protein expressions of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3K) p85alpha in hepatic, adipose, muscular and ovarian tissues in PCOS rats with insulin resistance (IR).

METHODTwenty-three-day-old female SD rats were injected subcutaneously with sodium prasterone sulfate (90 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 20 days, and fed with high-fat forage for 80 days to induce PCOS rats with IR Then the rats were randomly divided into the model group and the treated group. Meanwhile, a group of fifteen rats of the same age was considered as the normal control group. The treated group were administered with BSTMR. The ovulation condition was examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was determined using glucose oxidase method. Serum fasting insulin (Fins) was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The mRNA level of PI-3K p85alpha was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Immunohistochemistry staining was wtilised to detect protein expression of PI-3K p85alpha in ovary.

RESULTCompared with the model group, the mean number of corpus luteum and the rate of ovulation in the treated group increased significantly (P <0. 01). The level of Fins in the treated group was much lower than that in the model group (P < 0.01). Both mRNA and protein expressions of PI-3K p85alpha in target tissues were up-regulated significantly in the treated group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBSTMR could improve IR and ovulation dysfunction in PCOS rats accompanying with IR and its molecular mechanisms might be closely related with the elevation of mRNA and protein levels of PI-3K p85alpha in target tissues of the model rats.