title: Somatostatin treatment reduces the exaggerated response of adrenocorticotropin hormone and cortisol to corticotropin-releasing hormone in polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of somatostatin analogue (octreotide) in the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Women referred to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve PCOS women and 12 normo-ovulatory controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  In early follicular phase, I microgram/kg human corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) was injected at 9:00 A.M. and blood samples were collected for 90 minutes after stimulus; ACTH and cortisol plasma levels were measured. The following day at 8:00 A.M., PCOS patients received an ACTH test (250 micrograms IV) and samples were collected 60 minutes after injection. After 6 weeks of octreotide treatment (100 mg s.c. twice daily), PCOS patients repeated the same study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ACTH and cortisol baseline levels were similar in PCOS and control patients. The responses to human CRH of ACTH (incremental area = 437.86 +/- 188.7 versus 175.78 +/- 87.6 pmol/L; mean +/- SD) and cortisol (incremental area = 17,293.6 +/- 4,320.3 versus 5,885 (912.1 nmol/L) were significantly greater in PCOS with respect to control subjects. After octreotide treatment, ACTH response significantly decreased and no difference was observed with respect to controls (incremental area = 176.94 +/- 91.4). Cortisol responses were decreased by treatment. However, they remained significantly higher than in controls. Treatment did not modify adrenal response to IV ACTH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data suggest that, in the HPA axis, hyperfunction of PCOS somatostatin could be involved partially.
authors.affiliation: Oasi Institute of Research, Troina, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzone
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fulghesu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cucinelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013004:Somatostatin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone