Revitalizing polycystic ovary syndrome: The therapeutic impact of low-dose ∆9 tetrahydrocannabinol through reduction of oxidative stress and modulation of macrophage polarization

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex metabolic and endocrine disorder associated with chronic inflammation. However, the effect of ∆9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on PCOS has not been evaluated.  Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of THC in an animal model of PCOS. 

Twenty female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 4 weeks, were divided into four groups. The control group received a normal diet, the sham group received a vehicle (carboxymethyl cellulose), the PCOS group received a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks followed by letrozole for 4 weeks, and the THC group received an HFD for 16 weeks followed by letrozole+THC (0.02 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. 

The PCOS animals exhibited significantly higher levels of testosterone, insulin, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, along with elevated inflammatory and oxidative stress markers compared to the control group. Flow cytometry and real-time PCR analysis revealed an increase in M1 macrophage markers and a decrease in M2 macrophage markers compared to the control group. However, the administration of a low dose of THC mitigated these disturbances.

Low-dose THC improved inflammatory responses and shifted the balance of M1/M2 macrophage markers towards M2 macrophages in the animal model of PCOS.