Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol (40:1) reverse histological and functional features of polycystic ovary syndrome in a mouse model

Mice exposed to continuous light undergo functional and histological changes that mimic those of human Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). We herein induced the syndrome by exposing 30-day-old females to 10 weeks of permanent light. Ovarian morphology and histology, as well as reproductive parameters (time of observed pregnancy/delivery) were investigated. Ovaries of PCOS-modeled mice showed lack of tertiary follicles and corpora lutea, altered ovarian architecture, and increased thickness of the theca layer. When mice were returned to a normal light-dark regimen for 10 days, a slight, spontaneous improvement occurred, whereas a quick and almost complete recovery from PCOS signs and symptoms was obtained by treating animals with a daily supplementation of 420 mg/kg myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol (MyoIns/DCIns) in a 40:1 molar ratio. Namely, ovaries from mice treated by this protocol recovered normal histological features and a proper ratio of theca/granulosa cell layer thickness (TGR), suggesting that the androgenic phenotype was efficiently reversed. Indeed, we identified TGR as a useful index of PCOS, as its increase in PCOS-modeled mice correlated linearly with reduced reproductive capability ( r = 0.75, p < 0.0001). Mice treated with a 40:1 formula regained low TGR values and faster recovery of their fertility, with a physiological delivery time after mating. On the other hand, a higher D-chiro-inositol treatment formula, such as MyoIns versus DCIns 5:1, was ineffective or even had a negative effect on clinical-pathological outcomes.