The role of galectine-3 in disruption of ovarian during diabetes mellitus and stress

The objective: to study the role of galectin-3 (Gal-3) in ovarian function under conditions of diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic stress, and their combination in rats.Materials and methods. The study used 20 six-month-old female albino laboratory rats, which were equally divided into 4 groups: Group 1 – control animals, Group 2 – rats with simulated streptozotocin-induced DM (SIDM) and chronic immobilization stress (CIS), Group 3 – rats with SIDM, Group 4 – rats with CIS. Glucose and cortisol levels were determined in blood plasma. Morphological study of ovarian tissue was conducted. The material was taken on the 28th day from the beginning of the experiment. Histological, immunohistochemical, biochemical and statistical research methods were used.Results. Against the background of elevated glucose and HbA1c levels in the experimental Groups 2 and 3, congestion of blood vessels in the ovarian medulla is observed, which was caused by erythrocyte sludges and microthrombi formation. The general morphology of the ovaries of rats in the Groups 2–4 was similar to that of rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In particular, the appearance of numerous cystic follicles and an increased number of atretic follicles confirm this. Moreover, we detected different levels of Gal-3 expression in cells of different layers of primary, secondary and tertiary follicles. Follicular cells of rats with SIDM showed particularly pronounced Gal-3 expression. In all experimental groups, Gal-3 expression increased in ovarian tissue. In the ovaries of rats with SIDM, Gal-3 expression was more pronounced in the cells of the outer layer of primary, secondary, and tertiary follicles compared to rats with comorbid pathology and CIS. Most luteocytes of the corpus luteum intensively expressed Gal-3. In primary follicles, Gal-3 was expressed only in the cells of the theca interna, while in secondary follicles it was expressed in small or moderate amounts in the cells of all layers – the granulosa layer, theca interna and theca externa. Atrophic follicles showed varying Gal-3 expression intensity across different pathological groups.Conclusions. Our study showed that DM and stress lead to the development of PCOS, which is morphologically confirmed by the appearance of numerous cystic follicles in the ovarian tissue and an increased number of atretic and destruction of primary and secondary follicles.DM and stress lead to increased expression of Gal-3 in follicular cells at different stages of ovarian development compared to control values. At the same time, Gal-3 expression was highest in the group of animals with DM. Based on the results, it can be concluded that stress in animals with DM reduces Gal-3 expression in the cells of primary, secondary and tertiary follicles, but not in the corpus luteum and atretic follicles. It should be noted that ovarian oocytes remained insensitive to Gal-3 expression.