Fig. 1

PCOS rat model characteristics: A, B; The pie charts refer to the proportions of the different stages of the estrus cycle: proestrus (P), estrus (E), metestrus/diestrus (M/D), A demonstrates a regular estrus cycle in the CMC group, and B) an irregular estrus cycle, confirmed by an increase in the duration of metestrus and distrus phases in the PCOS group. Histopathological tests: C presence of multiple corpus luteum (CL) and follicles at different developmental stages in the CMC group (stars), D presence of cystic follicles (CF) in the PCOS group. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT): E and glucose clearance rate and (F), the area under IPGTT curves (AUC) between the PCOS and CMC groups after 21 days of oral administration of 1 mg/kg letrozole or 1% CMC. In IPGTT curves (E): * shows P ≤ 0.05, PCOS vs CMC group. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Repeated-measure ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test was used to analyze IPGTT data. unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test was used for AUC data analysis. Abbreviations: PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome; CMC, Carboxymethylcellulose