title: Insulin-like growth factors, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins and ovarian androgen production.
abstract: Increasing evidence indicates that the ovary contains an insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system complete with ligands, binding proteins, and receptors. Through their interaction with IGF receptors on theca-interstitial cell surface membranes, the ligands, IGF-I and IGF-II, synergize with luteinizing hormone (LH) to increase ovarian androgen production. The actions of these growth factors are modulated by intraovarian binding proteins, especially IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3, that enhance or inhibit the biological actions of the IGFs. These observations suggest that the IGF system plays a role in normal ovarian function and in the pathophysiology of ovarian hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary syndrome.
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago, Wyler Children's Hospital, IL 60637.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cara
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D013002:Somatomedins