The Effect of Kuntai Capsule on Ovarian Function in Cisplatin-Induced Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Rats

Abstract <strong>Objective</strong>: This study aims to evaluate the effect of the Kuntai Capsule on ovarian function in cisplatin-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) rats and to explore the mechanism of the Kuntai Capsule on the ovarian function of rats. <strong>Methods</strong>: Seventy-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study. Eight of the rats were randomly assigned to the Control group. The remaining sixty-six rats were utilized to establish the POI model via Cisplatin and then randomly divided into four groups: the model Control group (mo Control), the Estradiol group (E2), and the low and high doses of Kuntai Capsule groups (KTC-L, KTC-H). For the 28-day administration, the Control and mo Control groups were intragastrically administered with 2.0 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride daily, the E2 group with 2.0 mL of Estradiol suspension (0.2mg/kg/d), and the KTC-L and KTC-H groups with 2.0 mL of Kuntai capsule suspension (0.6g/kg/d, 1.8g/kg/d, respectively). Sex hormone levels, estrous cycle, and ovarian coefficient of the five groups were compared, histological sections analyzed follicle counts, and the protein expressions of GDF9, LC3A-II, and Beclin 1 in the ovarian tissue were detected by Western blotting. <strong>Results</strong>: After the 28-day administration, the E2, FSH levels of the KTC-L group was not significantly different with the Control group, the AMH level of the KTC-H group was significantly higher than the E2 group. The estrous cycle of KTC-L was significantly lower than the mo Control group. Regarding ovarian coefficient, resting and growing follicles, and GDF9, LC3A-II, and Beclin 1 expression, both KTC groups outperformed the mo Control group with the statistical difference (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05). <strong>Conclusion</strong>: Kuntai Capsule can improve POI rats’ estrous cycle and ovarian coefficient, maintain the number of resting and growing follicles, and up-regulate the protein expression of GDF9, LC3A-II, and Beclin 1 of rats’ ovaries.