Effect of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder on cytochrome C and mitochondrial Ca²⁺ in the ovaries of diabetic rats

Aim: To explore the effect of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder on the ovaries of diabetic rats by observing the levels of cytochrome C, mitochondrial Ca²⁺ and gonadal hormone. Methods: The experiment was conducted in the Key Laboratory of Child Neural Rehabilitation of Heilongjiang Province from June to August 2006. 1 Fifty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n =10), type 2 diabetes model group (n =20) and Ganoderma group (n=20). 2 The rats were fasted for 16-18 hours but drank freely. Model group and Ganoderma group were injected 25 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ, 2%) one time by vena caudalis; Control group was injected matching citrate sodium-citric acid buffer solution. After two weeks of normal diet, carbohydrate tolerance test was carried out. Only the rats of model group and Ganoderma group showed abnormal in carbohydrate tolerance test were remained and feed with high fat and high glucose foods. Besides that, Ganoderma group was added Ganoderma lucidum spore powder (250 mg/ kg daily) for 10 weeks. Carbohydrate tolerance test was carried out again before the end of the experiment. 3 The animals were fasted for 12 hours and anesthetized with ether to collect angular vein blood to detect serum insulin. The ovaries were harvested to determine the content of cytochrome C and mitochondrial Ca²⁺. Results: Totally 50 rats were enrolled and finally 8 of each group were involved in the result analysis. 1 In the carbohydrate tolerance test before and 12 weeks of experiment, the tolerance was changed in model rats (P < 0.05), at 1 hour, blood glucose level was significantly increased (P < 0.05) and reached the peak; at 2 hours, the blood glucose level was still high. In the model group, the blood glucose level reached the peak at 30 minutes, and restored to normal level at 2 hours. 2 The serum insulin of model group was significantly increased (P < 0.05). There was no obvious difference between Ganoderma group and control group. Estradiol (E₂) content in model group was remarkably decreased (P < 0.05), while follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (TS) contents were significantly increased (P < 0.05). No difference was found between Ganoderma group and control group. 3 Cytochrome C in kytoplasm was increased significantly while cytochrome C and mitochondrial Ca ²⁺ in the ovaries of model group were decreased (P < 0.05). There was no obvious difference between Ganoderma group and control group. Conclusion: Ganoderma spore powder can decrease serum insulin, FSH, TS, and cytochrome C contents and improve E₂, mitochondrial cytochrome C and Ca²⁺ contents in ovaries of diabetic rats. Therefore, Ganoderma lucidum spore powder ran protect the ovaries of rat with diabetes.