Effect of Vitamin D3 on Chemerin and Adiponectin Levels in Uterus of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rats

Karolina Pich; Jesika Rajewska; Kinga Kamińska; Marcelina Tchurzyk; Agata Szlaga; Patryk Sambak; Anna Błasiak; Małgorzata Grzesiak; Agnieszka Rak

doi:10.3390/cells12162026

Effect of Vitamin D₃ on Chemerin and Adiponectin Levels in Uterus of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rats

Cells. 2023 Aug 8;12(16):2026. doi: 10.3390/cells12162026.

Authors

Karolina Pich^{1

2}, Jesika Rajewska¹, Kinga Kamińska^{2

3}, Marcelina Tchurzyk³, Agata Szlaga⁴, Patryk Sambak^{2

4}, Anna Błasiak⁴, Małgorzata Grzesiak³, Agnieszka Rak¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
² Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Kraków, Poland.
³ Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
⁴ Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder with disrupted uterus structure and function. A positive effect of vitamin D₃ (VD₃) in female reproduction was observed. Chemerin (RARRES2) and adiponectin (ADIPOQ) are the main adipokines whose levels are altered in PCOS patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of VD₃ supplementation on RARRES2 and ADIPOQ levels in the uterus of PCOS rats.

Methods: We analyzed the plasma levels and uterine transcript and protein expression of RARRES2 and ADIPOQ and their receptors (CCRL2, CMKLR1, GPR1, and ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2, respectively) in rats with letrozole-induced PCOS.

Results: In control animals, VD₃ did not change plasma levels of both adipokines, while in PCOS rats supplemented with VD₃, they returned to control levels. The expression of RARRES2 and all investigated receptors increased in the uterus of VD₃-treated rats; however, the levels of Rarres2 and Gpr1 genes remained unchanged. VD₃ supplementation decreased RARRES2, CMKLR1, and GPR1 but increased CCRL2 level to the control value. In the uterus of VD₃-treated rats, the transcript and protein levels of ADIPOQ and both receptors ADIPOR1 increased. At the same time, VD₃ supplementation induced an increase in Adipoq, Adipor1, and Adipor2 gene expression and restored protein levels to control level values.

Conclusions: our findings indicate a new mechanism of VD₃ action in the uterine physiology of PCOS rats.

Keywords: PCOS; adiponectin; chemerin; rats; uterus; vitamin D3.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipokines
Adiponectin*
Animals
Cholecalciferol / pharmacology
Female
Humans
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome*
Rats
Uterus

Substances

Adiponectin
Cholecalciferol
Adipokines

Grants and funding

The research was supported by a grant from the Priority Research Area (POB BioS) under the Strategic Programme Excellence Initiative-Research University at Jagiellonian University (U1U/P03/NO/14.87 to MG).