Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Serum calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is an amino acid neuropeptide with widespread expression. It has potent effects on lipid and energy metabolism. It induces insulin resistance. This study was planned to determine CGRP levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

Forty-seven women with PCOS and 34 healthy controls were evaluated in this controlled clinical study. Serum lipid sub-fractions, postprandial and fasting glucose, insulin and other hormones (gonadotropins, androgens) and CGRP levels were measured. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was used to estimate insulin resistance.

Results

Waist measurements, postprandial and fasting glucose and fasting insulin levels and free androgen index and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in subjects with PCOS. However, the women with PCOS had considerably lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than healthy subjects. Serum CGRP levels were higher in study subjects than in controls, although it was statistically insignificant.

Conclusions

Serum CGRP level was not related with insulin resistance, ovarian hyperandrogenism and dyslipidemia in abdominally obese women with PCOS. These outcomes propose that CGRP may not play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Asuncion M, Calvo RM, San Millan JL, Sancho J, Avila S, Escobar-Morreale HF (2000) A prospective study of the prevalence of the polycystic ovary syndrome in unselected Caucasian women from Spain. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85:2434–2438

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Dunaif A (1997) Insulin resistance and the polycystic ovary syndrome: mechanism and implications for pathogenesis. Endocr Rev 18:774–800

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dunaif A, Segal KR, Futterweit W, Dobrjansky A (1989) Profound peripheral insulin resistance independent of obesity in polycystic ovary syndrome. Diabetes 38:1165–1174

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Arslanian SA, Lewy VD, Danadian K (2001) Glucose intolerance in obese adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome: roles of insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction and risk of cardiovascular disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86:66–71

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Stuart CA, Nagamani M (1992) Acute augmentation of plasma androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone by euglycemic insulin infusion: evidence for a direct effect of insulin on ovarian steroidogenesis. In: Dunaif A, Givens JR, Haseltine FP, Merriam G (eds) Polycystic ovary syndrome. Blackwell, Boston, pp 279–288

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kawasaki H, Takasaki K, Saito S, Goto K (1988) Calcitonin gene-related peptide acts as a novel vasodilator neurotransmitter in mesenteric resistance vessels of the rat. Nature 335:164–167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Guillot E, Coste A, Angel I (1996) Involvement of capsaicin-sensitive nerves in the regulation of glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. Life Sci 59:969–977

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Holzer P (1991) Capsaicin as a tool for studying sensory neuron functions. Adv Exp Med Biol 298:3–16

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kelly L, Morales S, Smith BK, Berthoud HR, Berthoud R (2000) Capsaicin-treated rats permanently over ingest low- but not high-concentration sucrose solutions. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 279:1805–1812

    Google Scholar 

  10. Koopmans SJ, Leighton B, DeFronzo RA (1998) Neonatal deafferentation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves increases in vivo insulin sensitivity in conscious adult rats. Diabetologia 41:813–820

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Danaher RN, Loomes KM, Leonard BL, Whiting L, Hay DL, Xu LY, Kraegen EW, Phillips AR, Cooper GJ (2008) Evidence that alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide is a neurohormone that controls systemic lipid availability and utilization. Endocrinology 149:154–160

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Walker CS, Li X, Whiting L, Glyn-Jones S, Zhang S, Hickey AJ, Sewell MA, Ruggiero K, Phillips AR, Kraegen EW et al (2010) Mice lacking the neuropeptide alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide are protected against diet-induced obesity. Endocrinology 151:4257–4269

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Gram DX, Hansen AJ, Wilken M, Elm T, Svendsen O, Carr RD, Ahrén B, Brand CL (2005) Plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide is increased prior to obesity, and sensory nerve desensitization by capsaicin improves oral glucose tolerance in obese Zucker rats. Eur J Endocrinol 153:963–969

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bowe JE, Li XF, Kinsey-Jones JS, Brain SD, Lightman SL, O’Byrne KT (2008) The role of corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptors in the calcitonin gene-related peptide-induced suppression of pulsatile luteinising hormone secretion in the female rat. Stress 11:312–319

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Li XF, Bowe JE, Mitchell JC, Brain SD, Lightman SL, O’Byrne KT (2004) Stress-induced suppression of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator in the female rat: a novel neural action for calcitonin gene-related peptide. Endocrinology 145:1556–1563

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. The Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group (2004) Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod 19:41–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ferriman D, Gallwey JD (1961) Clinical assessment of body hair growth in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 21:1440–1447

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, Naylor BA, Treacher DF, Turner RC (1985) Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and β-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia 28:412–419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Levy JC, Matthews DR, Hermans MP (1998) Correct homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) evaluation uses the computer program. Diabetes Care 21:2191–2192

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Geloneze B, Vasques AC, Stabe CF, Pareja JC, Rosado LE, Queiroz EC, Tambascia MA, BRAMS Investigators (2009) HOMA1-IR and HOMA2-IR indexes in identifying insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome: Brazilian Metabolic Syndrome Study (BRAMS). Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol 53:281–287

    Google Scholar 

  21. Gómez-Foix AM, Rodriguez-Gil JE, Guinovart JJ (1991) Anti-insulin effects of amylin and calcitonin-gene-related peptide on hepatic glycogen metabolism. Biochem J 276:607–610

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Leighton B, Foot EA, Cooper GG, King JM (1989) Calcitonin gene-related peptide-1 (CGRP-1) is a potent regulator of glycogen metabolism in rat skeletal muscle. FEBS Lett 249:357–361

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Molina JM, Cooper GJS, Leighton B, Olefsky JM (1990) Induction of insulin resistance in vivo by amylin and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Diabetes 39:260–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Choi SB, Frontoni S, Rossetti L (1991) Mechanism by which calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonizes insulin action in vivo. Am J Physiol 260:321–325

    Google Scholar 

  25. Zhang Z, Gong F, Lu GX (2012) Plasma level of calcitonin gene-related peptide in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship to hormonal and metabolic parameters. Peptides 34:343–348

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. DeFronzo RA, Ferrannini E (1991) Insulin resistance. A multifaceted syndrome responsible for NIDDM, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Diabetes Care 14:173–194

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Blass KM, Newschaffer CJ, Klag MJ, Bush TL (1993) Plasma lipoprotein levels as predictors of cardiovascular death in women. Arch Intern Med 153:2209–2216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang Y, Zanotti I, Reilly MP, Glick JM, Rothblat GH, Rader DJ (2003) Overexpression of apolipoprotein A-I promotes reverse transport of cholesterol from macrophages to feces in vivo. Circulation 108:661–663

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Mackintosh VS, Phan CT, Mortimer BC, Redgrave TG (1996) Vasoactive mediators affect the clearance of lipids from emulsion models of plasma lipoproteins in rats. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 27:447–454

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Gangula PR, Wimalawansa SJ, Yallampalli C (2000) Pregnancy and sex steroid hormones enhance circulating calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations in rats. Hum Reprod 15:949–953

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Leclercq P, Herbison AE (1996) Sexually dimorphic expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity by rat mediobasal hypothalamic neurons. J Comp Neurol 367:444–453

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahi Hospital, Denizli, Turkey

    Semin Melahat Fenkci

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey

    Veysel Fenkci & Ozer Oztekin

  3. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, 20100, Turkey

    Simin Rota

  4. Zeytinkoy Mah. Dogalevler Sitesi, 5097 Sokak, M Blok Kat: 2, Daire: 4, Bagbasi, Denizli, 20100, Turkey

    Semin Melahat Fenkci

Authors
  1. Semin Melahat Fenkci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Veysel Fenkci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ozer Oztekin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Simin Rota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Semin Melahat Fenkci.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fenkci, S.M., Fenkci, V., Oztekin, O. et al. Serum calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 1235–1239 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2689-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2689-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation