THE INFLUENCE OF COMBINED CYPROTERONE ACETATE-ETHINYL OESTRADIOL THERAPY ON SERUM LEVELS OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE, ANDROSTENEDIONE, AND TESTOSTERONE IN HIRSUTE WOMEN

1977 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marijke Frölich ◽  
Nadia Lachinsky ◽  
A. J. Moolenaar

ABSTRACT Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, and testosterone in hirsute women suffering from either idiopathic hirsutism or the polycystic ovary syndrome were determined before and during treatment with cyproterone acetate combined with ethinyl oestradiol. During this treatment the hirsutism decreased markedly. In untreated hirsute women serum dehydroepiandrosterone levels do not differ from those in normal women and do not change during therapy; androstenedione levels are higher than normal and decrease markedly during treatment, and the testosterone levels are elevated compared to normals, with a considerable overlap, and show only a tendency to decrease. There is no correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione levels or between androstenedione and testosterone levels in the serum of untreated hirsute women. After 12–14 months of cyproterone acetate-ethinyl oestradiol therapy a linear correlation is found between dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione levels. This can be explained by the relatively higher contribution of the peripheral conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone to androstenedione to the occurrence of lower androstenedione levels. The linear correlation between androstenedione and testosterone after treatment, also found in normal women, indicates the restoration of the role of androstenedione as the major peripheral precursor of testosterone.

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 1429-1438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai-Lun Hu ◽  
Hongcui Zhao ◽  
Zheying Min ◽  
Yilei He ◽  
Tianjie Li ◽  
...  

Kisspeptins are a family of neuropeptides that are essential for fertility. Recent experimental data suggest a putative role of kisspeptin signaling in the direct control of ovarian function. To explore the expression of KISS1 and KISS1 receptor (KISS1R) in human granulosa lutein cells and the potential role of KISS1/KISS1R system in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), we measured the concentration of KISS1 in follicular fluid, the expression of KISS1 and KISS1R in granulosa lutein cells, and the circulating hormones. The expression levels of KISS1 and KISS1R were significantly upregulated in human granulosa lutein cells obtained from women with PCOS. The expression levels of KISS1 in human granulosa lutein cells highly correlated with those of KISS1R in non-PCOS patients, but not in patients with PCOS, most likely due to the divergent expression patterns in women with PCOS. Additionally, the expression levels of KISS1 highly correlated with the serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). The expression levels of KISS1 and KISS1R, as well as the follicular fluid levels of KISS1, were not significantly different between the pregnant and nonpregnant patients in both PCOS and non-PCOS groups. In conclusion, the increased expression of KISS1 and KISS1R in human granulosa lutein cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of PCOS. The expression levels of KISS1 highly correlated with the serum levels of AMH. The KISS1 and KISS1R system in the ovary may not have a remarkable role in predicting the in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanyuan Zhou ◽  
Liang Lv ◽  
Qinghua Liu ◽  
Jiale Song

Abstract Large doses of flavonoids could cure many diseases with no serious side effects. However, the role of flavonoids in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has not been reported. Therefore, total flavonoids extracted from Nervilia Fordii were selected to explore its therapeutic efficiency in PCOS. PCOS rat model was constructed to explore the role of total flavonoids in the treatment of PCOS. ELISA was used to assess the changes of ovulation function under the treatment of total flavonoids with or without exogenous interleukin-6 (IL-6). Western blot, real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were carried out to assess the related molecular mechanisms. We explored that total flavonoids obviously increased the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and sharply decreased the serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and insulin (INS) in the PCOS-IR rats via partly inhibiting the activation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway, partially up-regulating the IL-6 expression and partially down-regulating the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) expression in ovaries of PCOS rats. The effect of total flavonoids on estrous cycles, serum levels of FSH, LH, T and INS were partially attenuated by IL-6 in PCOS rat model. Moreover, IL-6 significantly reversed the effect of total flavonoids on the phosphorylation of JAK2/STAT3, the expression of IL-6 and SOCS3 in ovaries of PCOS rats. Total flavonoids extracted from Nervilia Fordii might induce the expression of IL-6 in ovary and act as a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of PCOS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nearmeen M. Rashad ◽  
Amal S. El-Shal ◽  
Hala G. Abomandour ◽  
Amr Mostafa Kamel Aboelfath ◽  
Mohamed el sayed Rafeek ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive endocrine disorder characterized by obesity, hyperandrogenism, and insulin resistance. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokine which is associated with atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The pathogenesis of PCOS is not precisely known. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of ICAM-1 expression and serum ICAM-1 concentrations in pathogenesis of PCOS. Moreover, we aimed to evaluate the possible relationship between ICAM-1 gene expression with carotid intima-media thickness as well as clinic-morphological features of PCOS. Methods This case control study enrolled 180 patients with PCOS and 120 controls groups and they were stratified according to their fasting plasma glucose (FPG) into three subgroups; normal glucose tolerance (NGT) [n = 75], those with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) [n = 65], and 40 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Circulating ICAM-1 expression levels were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum ICAM-1 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Our results revealed that PCOS patients had higher values of ICAM-1expression and serum levels. Among PCOS patients, T2DM patients had the highest values of ICAM-1 expression and serum levels compared to IGT and NGT subgroups. The ICAM-1 expression and serum levels were significantly positive correlated with cardiovascular risk and PCOS phenotypes. Linear regression test showed that HOMA-IR was the main predictors of serum ICAM-1 levels in PCOS. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis revealed that, the power of ICAM-1 expression levels was higher than serum ICAM-1 in diagnosis of PCOS and in differentiating T2DM from IGT and NGT subgroups. Interestingly, combination of both ICAM-1 expression and serum levels improved the diagnostic role of serum ICAM-1. Conclusion ICAM-1 expression and serum levels were higher in women with PCOS compared to control group also, there was a strong independent association between higher ICAM-1 expression and serum levels with cardiovascular risks in PCOS group.


Author(s):  
Daniela Menichini ◽  
Gianpiero Forte ◽  
Beatrice Orrù ◽  
Giuseppe Gullo ◽  
Vittorio Unfer ◽  
...  

Abstract. Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone that plays a pivotal role in several metabolic and reproductive pathways in humans. Increasing evidence supports the role of vitamin D deficiency in metabolic disturbances and infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Indeed, supplementation with vitamin D seems to have a beneficial role on insulin resistance and endometrial receptivity. On the other hand, exceedingly high levels of vitamin D appear to play a detrimental role on oocytes development and embryo quality. In the current review, we summarize the available evidence about the topic, aiming to suggest the best supplementation strategy in women with PCOS or, more generally, in those with metabolic disturbances and infertility. Based on the retrieved data, vitamin D seems to have a beneficial role on IR, insulin sensitivity and endometrial receptivity, but high levels and incorrect timing of administration seem to have a detrimental role on oocytes development and embryo quality. Therefore, we encourage a low dose supplementation (400–800 IU/day) particularly in vitamin D deficient women that present metabolic disturbances like PCOS. As far as the reproductive health, we advise vitamin D supplementation in selected populations, only during specific moments of the ovarian cycle, to support the luteal phase. However, ambiguities about dosage and timing of the supplementation still emerge from the clinical studies published to date and further studies are required.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Bozic-Antic ◽  
Dusan Ilic ◽  
Tamara Bogavac ◽  
Snjezana Erceg ◽  
Mirjana Lacmanovic ◽  
...  

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