Ovarian cytoarchitectual changes following fennel ingestion in senile diabetic albino rat

Introduction: Postmenopausal obesity sounds an alarm for women’s health, since it serves as a predominant risk factor for many chronic diseases leading to reduced life expectancy and increased health problems.The relation between menopausal status and diabetes mellitus remains controversial. Reproductive tract dysfunction is a recognized consequence of diabetes obesity syndrome (DOS). Therefore, a possible association between obesity, diabetes mellitus and abnormalities of female reproductive function in several respects may occur.Nowadays traditional medicinal plants and spices are commonly used for their possible effects as hypoglycaemic, antidiabetic and folliculogenic agents instead of using synthetic drugs.Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic implication of fennel ingestion in ovarian changes in diabetically induced senile rats.Materials and Methods: A total of 24 senile female albino rats were divided into 4 equal groups: control group, fennel oil receiving group, diabetic group and diabetic/fennel oil ingested group. Treatments were continued for 8 weeks, then ovarian samples were collected from all rats for histological, immunohistochemical and ultra-structural studies. Blood glucose levels were measured to confirm hyperglycemia and to follow the disease progression. Serum analyses for hormonal assay were also estimatedResults: STZ injection caused typical ovarian follicular cysts of variable sizes together with elevation of blood glucose level. Fennel oil administration to diabetes-induced group showed some amelioration in the ovarian structure and blood glucose level.Conclusion: Fennel essential oil could ameliorate diabetes with its use as a fertility enhancing agent. Fennel has folliculogenesis effect consistent with its use in folk medicine as a fertility enhancing agent.