This study was designed to assess for the first time the circulating and ovarian level of 14-3-3β protein in the PCOS mice and the possible correlation between 14-3-3β protein with PCOS related increase in testosterone (HA) and insulin levels (HI) and reduced insulin sensitivity in the ovary. PCOS was induced in mice using treatment of letrozole (by oral gavage) for 21 days. Immunohistochemical study showed increased expression of 14-3-3β protein in PCOS ovary compared to the normal control ovary. The circulating testosterone and insulin levels, together with circulating and ovarian levels of 14-3-3β protein also showed significant increase in PCOS mice compared to the normal control mice. An increase in 14-3-3β protein was observed positively correlated with circulating testosterone and insulin levels but showed a negative correlation with ovarian expression of insulin receptor protein in PCOS mice. The treatment of 14-3-3β protein in vitro to the normal ovary showed a significant increase in testosterone synthesis but a significant decline in insulin receptor protein expression compared to the vehicle-treated ovary of adult mice. The present study showed the direct role of 14-3-3β protein in increasing testosterone synthesis along with decreasing insulin sensitivity. Thus, 14-3-3β protein may be playing possible role in PCOS pathogenesis.

本研究旨在首次评估 PCOS 小鼠中 14-3-3β 蛋白的循环和卵巢水平，以及 14-3-3β 蛋白与 PCOS 相关的睾酮 (HA) 和胰岛素水平升高之间的可能相关性。 HI) 并降低卵巢中的胰岛素敏感性。使用来曲唑治疗（通过口服管饲法）在小鼠中诱导 PCOS 21 天。免疫组织化学研究显示，与正常对照卵巢相比，PCOS 卵巢中 14-3-3β 蛋白的表达增加。与正常对照小鼠相比，PCOS 小鼠的循环睾酮和胰岛素水平以及 14-3-3β 蛋白的循环和卵巢水平也显示出显着增加。观察到 14-3-3β 蛋白的增加与循环睾酮和胰岛素水平呈正相关，但与 PCOS 小鼠卵巢中胰岛素受体蛋白的表达呈负相关。14-3-3β蛋白的治疗与载体处理的成年小鼠卵巢相比，正常卵巢的体外试验显示睾酮合成显着增加，但胰岛素受体蛋白表达显着下降。本研究表明 14-3-3β 蛋白在增加睾酮合成和降低胰岛素敏感性方面的直接作用。因此，14-3-3β 蛋白可能在 PCOS 发病机制中发挥作用。