Impaired growth hormone secretion after glucose loading in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome, possibly related to androgen but not insulin and free fatty acids.
BACKGROUND
Secretion of growth hormone (GH) is known to be suppressed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The suppression may be implicated in the pathogenesis of PCOS.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the cause of suppressive GH secretion in PCOS.


METHODS
In order to eliminate the influence of obesity on the variables, all subjects were non-obese. Standard oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed in 13 normal women and 15 patients with PCOS.


RESULTS
The serum GH level decreased progressively during the OGTT, and the mean area under the curve (AUC) for the GH response was significantly smaller in the PCOS group than in the normal group. A reduction in the level of serum free fatty acids (FFAs) was observed during OGTT, but only the fasting level of FFAs was significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the normal group. The mean AUCs for glucose, insulin and FFA responses in the PCOS group were significantly greater than those in the normal group. There was a significant negative correlation only between AUC(GH) and testosterone (r = -0.4557, p = 0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the cause of susceptibility for GH secretion to be suppressed after glucose loading in non-obese PCOS patients may be hyperandrogenemia.
Takeuchi
Toru
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. takeuchi-dis@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Tsutsumi
Osamu
O
Taketani
Yuji
Y
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D005947:Glucose