Metformin: a novel promising option for fertility preservation during cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy

Chu Chun Huang, Chia Hung Chou, Yu Shih Yang, Hong Nerng Ho, Chia Tung Shun, Wen Fen Wen, Shee Uan Chen, Mei Jou Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cyclophosphamide (CP) could cause severe gonadotoxicity via imbalanced activation of primordial follicles through PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation. Whether metformin, a widely prescribed anti-diabetes agent with mTOR inhibitory effect, could preserve ovarian function against CP toxicity is unknown. Female C57BL/6 mice were randomized into seven groups (n = 11), including control, CP-alone, CP + metformin, CP + sirolimus or everolimus, metformin-alone and sirolimus-alone groups. The duration of pharmaceutical treatment was 4 weeks. CP treatment significantly impaired ovarian function and fertility in mice. CP + metformin treatment significantly attenuated the gonadotoxicity comparing to CP-alone treatment (primordial follicle count: 17.6 ± 4.2 versus 10.3 ± 2.7 follicles/high-power field; P = 0.027). CP + metformin treatment also tended to increase antral follicular count (5.4 ± 1.1 versus 2.5 ± 1.6 follicles/section), serum AMH levels (4.6 ± 1.2 versus 2.0 ± 0.8 ng/ml) and the litter size (4.2 ± 1.3 versus 1.5 ± 1.0 mice per pregnancy), compared with CP-alone group. Expression of phospho-mTOR and the number of TUNEL-positive granulosa cells increased after CP treatment and decreased in the CP + metformin groups, suggesting the mTOR inhibitory and anti-apoptotic effects of metformin. In in-vitro granulosa cell experiments, the anti-apoptotic effect of metformin was blocked after inhibiting p53 or p21 function, and the expression of p53 mRNA was blocked with AMPK inhibitor, suggesting that the anti-apoptotic effect was AMPK/p53/p21-mediated. In conclusion, concurrent metformin treatment during CP therapy could significantly preserve ovarian function and fertility and could be a promising novel fertility preserving agent during chemotherapy. The relatively acceptable cost and well-established long-term safety profiles of this old drug might prompt its further clinical application at a faster pace.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbergaaa084
JournalMolecular Human Reproduction
Volume27
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021

Keywords

  • AMP-activated protein kinases
  • anti-Mullerian hormone
  • apoptosis
  • cyclophosphamide
  • fertility preservation
  • metformin
  • mTOR protein
  • p21
  • p53

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Embryology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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