Effect of colchicine on polycystic ovary syndrome: an experimental study

Purpose To investigate whether there is any therapeutic effect of colchicine on a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods Twenty-two Wistar-Albino rats were randomly assigned into four with 8 rats in each group: control group; PCOS only group; PCOS-metformin group and PCOS-colchicine group. PCOS was induced by gavage with letrozole once daily at the concentration of 1 mg/kg orally with 21 consecutive days. After PCOS model assessment, PCOS-metformin group was received metformin orally with 500 mg/kg and PCOS-colchicine group was received colchicine orally with 1 mg/kg for the 35 day. Histopathology of ovaries, circulating estrone (E 1 ), estradiol (E 2 ), total testosterone, androstenedione and c-reactive protein (CRP) levels were evaluated. Results: cystic and atretic follicle number was significantly decreased, but CRP and hormone parameters were not significantly changed with colchicine treatment. Conclusion Colchicine has provided histopathological improvement compared with metformin in PCOS rat model.