The significance of adrenal and ovarian catheterization in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
A previously unreported series of 15 anovulatory hirsute women with polycystic ovaries made up this study. Each underwent left adrenal and left ovarian vein catherization. Blood samples were obtained from the ovarian, adrenal and peripheral veins to test the levels of testosterone, delta 4 androstenedione (delta 4A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estradiol and/or total estrogens, before and after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (ten cases) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (five cases). Following intravenous human chorionic gonadotropin administration, the only response seen was a slight rise in ovarian levels of delta 4A and DHEA; after intravenous adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation, the adrenal levels of delta 4A, testosterone and DHEA rose significantly. Peripheral concentrations of testosterone and delta 4A were in the high normal range and DHEA levels were high normal or slightly above normal range.
D000293:Adolescent; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000728:Androgens; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone