title: The androgenic polycystic ovary.
abstract: The polycystic ovary has the capacity to produce excessive androgens (delta4-androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and testosterone). Whether this disorder is caused by constant pituitary priming of the ovaries due to hypothalamic-pituitary derangement or an ovarian enzyme defect, the end result is the same, i.e., abnormal androgen production. In an effort to explain the syndrome, we offer the hypothesis of an inherently sensitized adrenal secreting excessive androgen which leads to an imbalance in the hypothalamic-pituitary axia. The result is a tonic stimulation of the ovaries eventuating in "the androgenic polycystic ovary."
mesh_terms: D015068:17-Ketosteroids / Q000652:urine; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000858:Anovulation / Q000209:etiology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014680:Veins
chemical_list: D015068:17-Ketosteroids; D000728:Androgens; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone