title: Insulin stimulates androgen accumulation in incubations of minced porcine theca.
abstract: Clinical observations indicate that there is an association between hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism in women of reproductive age. The effects of insulin on ovarian steroidogenesis were studied in 4-day incubations of minced porcine theca. Insulin alone significantly stimulated dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T) and androstenedione (delta 4A) accumulation in the media as compared to vehicle-treated controls. Insulin alone did not stimulate progesterone (P) accumulation. Insulin plus luteinizing hormone (LH) resulted in significantly greater accumulation of DHT, T and delta 4A than LH alone. Insulin plus LH did not stimulate P accumulation as compared to LH alone. Insulin, at high concentrations, may be a regulator of thecal androgen synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. 02115.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barbieri
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013552:Swine; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D007328:Insulin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone