Effects of capsaicin on nitric oxide synthase isoforms in prepubertal rat ovary

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as an important intra-ovarian regulatory factor. We investigated effects of low dose capsaicin (CAP) treatment on the different NOS isoforms in prepubertal rat ovaries. Fifteen 21-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups. The first group received no treatment, the second group received 0.5 mg/kg/day CAP dissolved in the vehicle, and the third group was treated with the vehicle only. The animals were euthanized by ether inhalation after 15 days and their ovaries were excised. Ovaries were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections were processed for standard immunohistochemistry using the labeled streptavidin-biotin technique for expression of nNOS, eNOS and iNOS. We demonstrated that CAP induced expression of NOS isotypes including eNOS, iNOS and nNOS in prepubertal rat ovaries. CAP may lead to release of NO either directly from nerves or indirectly by evoking release from other cells via the action of neuropeptides that are released from afferent terminals and are involved in regulating female reproductive function.

The Effects of Hot Pepper Seeds Added to the Diet in Quails on the Morphology of the Oviduct and Ovary

“…Among the study groups in the present study, a significant increase was measured in the number of yellowish follicles in the group 2% compared to the group 6%. Such a high result in follicular development is compatible with the finding reported by Zik et al (2010) that low-dose capsaicin protects ovarian follicles from apoptosis and stimulates follicular development. Likewise, the study by Güler and Zik (2018), which examined the proliferative and apoptotic effects of different doses of capsaicin on granulosa cells in the avian ovary, also reported that low-dose capsaicin treatment had positive effects on avian folliculogenesis.…”

“…In the present study, it was thought that the reason for the increase in the number of quail follicles induced by hot pepper seeds was related to the changes in the number and size of the epithelial layer and theca cells surrounding the follicle in the avian ovary as reported by Ozer et al (2005). The histological reason why this difference was observed was considered to be due to the protective effect of capsaicin on follicles from apoptosis and atresia (Zik et al, 2010;Güler and Zik, 2018). Liu et al (2021b) argued that capsaicin increased follicular growth and maturation in avians by activation of TRPV4 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid) and calcium (Ca ++ ) signaling pathway in the ovary along with improvement in ovarian antioxidant capacity.…”

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract alleviates urethral dysfunction in diabetic rats through modulating the NO‑cGMP pathway

“…Histological analysis was performed using a light microscope with a computerized imaging system (Northern Eclipse 7.0; Empix Imaging, Inc., Mississauga, ON, Canada) by two qualified observers blinded to the study. The degree of staining was evaluated based on the intensity score, as previously described (18), in which a score of 0-3 represented absence of staining, weak, moderate and strong staining, respectively. The proportional score was the percentage of cells that stained positive in different cell groups and was scored as: 0, no positivity; 1, <1-25%; 2, 26-50%; 3, 51-75%; 4, 76-100% positive staining.…”