Alterations of folliculogenesis in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
The objective of the present study was to examine some factors involved in follicular development of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS showed increased levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) but decreased follicular production of progesterone and estradiol by pre-ovulatory follicles. The mRNA expression corresponding to steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) was increased, while that corresponding to cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) was decreased in PCOS follicles as compared to controls. No changes in the mRNA expression for 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (3β-HSD2), cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc), cytochrome P450 17 alpha hydroxylase/lyase (P450c17), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and transcription factors (GATA-4 and GATA-6) were found. We conclude that despite the hyper-luteinized environment of PCOS follicles, these follicles produce lower levels of progesterone and estradiol, and that this is characterized by increased degradation of progesterone and decreased estradiol synthesis. Our data demonstrate that the synthesis of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) may be affected in PCOS-follicles and that the transcription factors GATA-4 and GATA-6 are present in PCOS-follicles but they are not involved in the abnormal transcription observed in the steroidogenic enzymes.
Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Valeria Analía
VA
Sander
María Belén
MB
Hapon
Laura
L
Sícaro
Eduardo Pedro
EP
Lombardi
Graciela Alma
GA
Jahn
Alicia Beatriz
AB
Motta
D043607:20-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001141:Aromatase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D043607:20-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase; D001141:Aromatase; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2