title: Androgen receptor gene CAG repeat polymorphism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of the androgen receptor (AR) gene CAG repeat in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University department of obstetrics and gynecology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with (n = 114) or without (n = 205) PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood sampling was done for DNA analysis and serum hormone measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  CAG repeat length and serum androgen levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant CAG repeat length differences were found between patients and controls. We conducted a detailed analysis after dividing PCOS patients according to their free testosterone levels. The high free testosterone group had a statistically significantly longer mean biallelic average (24.0 +/- 2.0 vs. 23.0 +/- 1.5), short (22.5 +/- 1.8 vs. 21.7 +/- 1.9), and long (25.5 +/- 2.9 vs. 24.4 +/- 1.9) allelic lengths than the normal free testosterone group. In PCOS patients, a statistically significant correlation was found between biallelic average length and free testosterone concentration, either unadjusted or after adjustment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AR gene CAG repeat polymorphism may contribute to the serum concentration of free testosterone in PCOS patients. A subset of PCOS patients with relatively longer CAG repeats (less AR activity) tended to show a higher serum androgen concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seon Ha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choung
authors.forename: Young Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shin Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C410798:AR protein, human; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone