Hyperbaric oxygen therapy effect on androgen receptor and superoxide dismutase in insulin-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome

It has been found that insulin resistance (IR) affects majority of the women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) regardless its correlation with obesity. Hyperinsulinemia leads to hyperandrogenemia state, showed by an over-expression in androgen receptor (AR). It has also been discovered that oxidative stress level is significantly increased in patients with PCOS, showed by an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) serum level. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is proved to be able to reduce IR and oxidative stress level in other cases. This study aims to evaluate the effect of HBOT on AR expression and SOD serum level in insulin-resistant PCOS rat model. This study was an experimental study with randomized posttest only control group design. Twenty female Rattus norvegicus strain Wistar as insulin-resistant PCOS rat model was used in this study, randomly divided into control group and treatment group. HBOT was given at 2.4 ATA pressure with 100% oxygen. AR expression was measured semi-quantitatively with Immunoreactive Score (IRS), while SOD serum level was measured with ELISA method. Mean IRS score between control group and treatment group were significantly different (1.64 ± 1.38 vs 0.8 ± 0.6, p = 0.025). Mean SOD serum level between control group and treatment group was significantly different (0.13 ± 0.03ng/ml vs 0.2 ± 0.06ng/ml, p = 0.011). HBOT could reduce the AR expression and increase the SOD serum level in insulin-resistant PCOS rat model. HBOT therapy could be taken into consideration for treating insulin-resistant PCOS patients.