The Role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus as a probiotic in managing polycystic ovary syndrome in female rats: An experimental study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation, is increasingly linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of Lactobacillus rhamnosus in a letrozole-induced PCOS rat model, assessing oxidative stress, hormonal regulation, inflammatory mediators, and histopathology. Twenty-four female rats were assigned to negative control, PCOS (positive control), and probiotic-treated PCOS groups. After 8 weeks, probiotic supplementation significantly improved oxidative stress markers, increasing SOD (173.5±2.34 to 289.8±6.41, p<0.001) and GSH (64.15±3.40 to 140.9±3.46, p<0.0001), while MDA remained unchanged (p=0.064). Hormonal profiles improved with decreased LH (9.94±0.52 to 5.20±0.52, p=0.001), reduced testosterone (29.51±1.07 to 21.75±0.72, p<0.001), and restored FSH (3.52±0.45 to 7.55±0.58, p=0.001), supporting follicular development. Insulin levels dropped (20.66±0.95 to 5.44±0.68, p=0.0001), indicating enhanced insulin sensitivity. Inflammatory cytokines IL-6 (169.6±1.48 to 142.01±2.97, p=0.001) and IL-18 (46.62±1.30 to 40.02±0.85, p≤0.001) were reduced. Histopathology confirmed ovarian architecture restoration with increased corpora lutea, decreased follicular cysts, and improved liver morphology. These results demonstrate that L. rhamnosus mitigates PCOS manifestations via oxidative stress reduction, hormonal balance restoration, inflammation suppression, and tissue pathology improvement, highlighting its potential as an adjunctive therapy for PCOS management.