title: Adrenocortical production is associated with higher levels of luteinizing hormone in nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Objective. Insulin resistance (IR) and ovarian and adrenal hyperandrogenism are a common finding in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of the present study was to access possible differences in insulin resistance, gonadotropins, and androgens production in obese and nonobese PCOS women. Study Design. We studied 37 PCOS women (16 nonobese and 21 obese) and 18 nonobese controls. Fasting glucose, insulin, androgens, and gonadotropins levels were determined. Salivary cortisol was measured basal and in the morning after dexamethasone (DEX) 0.25 mg. Results. Nonobese PCOS women showed higher basal salivary cortisol and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels than controls and obese PCOS. These hormones levels did not differ between the obese and control groups. After DEX administration no differences were found between the three groups. In PCOS women, salivary cortisol levels showed negative correlation with BMI (r = -0.52; P = 0.001) and insulin (r = -0.47; P = 0.003) and positive correlation with LH (r = 0.40; P = 0.016). Conclusion. Our results show an increased adrenocortical production in nonobese PCOS women, not related to IR and associated with a normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppression. Higher LH levels might be involved in this event.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8830-7207
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tock
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gláucia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, Sleep Disorders Center, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tufik
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Zanella