Summary
In order to investigate the relationship between serum testosterone level and expression of androgen receptors in ovary in relation to insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Serum testosterone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in 17 patients with PCOS and 20 cases as control group. The expression of androgen receptor in ovary was detected by immunohistochemistry method. The results showed that serum testosterone level [(3.1±1.5) nmol/L] and insulin resistance index (0.85±0.49) in patients with PCOS were significantly higher than in control group (P<0.05), and showed a positive relation (r=0.65,P<0.01). The expression levels of androgen receptor in ovary of patients with PCOS were significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The optical density value was positively related with insulin resistance index (r=0.59,P<0.01). It was concluded that androgen and androgen receptor could accelerate insulin resistance and the interaction of them might aggravate the pathophysiological change in PCOS.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Solomon C G. The epidemiology of polycystic ovary syndrome: Prevalence and associated disease risks. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am, 1999, 28(2):247
Birdsall M A, Farquhar C M. Polycystic ovaries in pre and post-menopausal women. Clin Endocrinol, 1996, 44 (3):269
Haffner S M, Miettinen H, Stern M P. The homeostasis model in the San Antonio Heart Study. Diabetes Care, 1997, 20(7):1087
Hotel J. Polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance: thrifty genes struggling with overfeeding and secondary life style?. J Endocrinol Invest, 1998, 21(9):589
Preelevic G M. Insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome. Curr Opin Qnstel Gynecol, 1997, 9(3):193
Dale P O, Tanbo T, Huang Eet al. The impact of insulin resistance on the outcome of ovulation induction with low-dose follicle stimulating hormone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Repro, 1998, 13 (3):567
Toprak S, Yonem A, Cakir Bet al. Insulin resistance in nonobese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Horm Res, 2001, 55(2):65
Arslanian S A, Lewy V, Danadian Ket al. Metformin therapy in obese adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome and impaired glucose tolerance: amelioration of exaggerated adrenal response to adrenocorticotropin with reduction of insulinemia/insulin resistance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2002, 87(4):1555
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
CHU Yongli, female, born in 1973, M. D., Ph. D.
This project was supported by a grant from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. 30100200).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yongli, C., Yongyu, S. & Hongyu, Q. Study of androgen and androgen receptor in relation to insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome. Current Medical Science 23, 52–54 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02829462
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02829462