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Acute iv CRH administration significantly increases serum active ghrelin in postmenopausal PCOS women compared to postmenopausal controls

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Abstract

Purpose

In women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), an increased risk of disordered eating has been described. There is growing interest regarding a possible interconnection between psychological states and increased appetite in women with PCOS. Acute stress is characterized by increased Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) secretion. The aim was to estimate the ghrelin concentrations during CRH test.

Methods

Twenty postmenopausal women with PCOS and twenty age- and BMI- matched postmenopausal control women were recruited at Aretaieion University Hospital. In the morning (9 am) all subjects had anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference) and a fasting sample for hormonal measurements. An intravenous (iv) CRH stimulation test conducted over 1 min. Serum active ghrelin levels were measured at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 min after iv CRH administration.

Results

The postmenopausal PCOS group had a higher waist circumference compared to postmenopausal controls. Active ghrelin concentrations increased significantly from 0 to 15 min, to 30 min, to 60 min, to 90 min and then decreased to 120 min. However, within the postmenopausal control group there were no significant changes in serum active ghrelin levels. Serum active ghrelin concentrations were significantly greater in the postmenopausal control group at 0, 15 and 120 min compared to the postmenopausal PCOS group. At 90 min active ghrelin concentrations were significantly greater in the postmenopausal PCOS group. Delta Area Under the Curve of active ghrelin (ΔAUCghr) was significantly greater in the postmenopausal PCOS group compared to controls.

Conclusions

In postmenopausal PCOS, but not in postmenopausal controls, iv CRH administration induces increased serum active ghrelin secretion, suggesting a possible anti-stress adaptive mechanism. An increase in serum active ghrelin may induce hunger as a side-effect of this presumed adaptive mechanism.

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Funding

This work received fund (No 1535, to G.M.) by the Ethnikon and Kapodistriakon University of Athens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, “Aretaieion” University Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Marios Markopoulos, Nikos F. Vlahos, George Mastorakos & Georgios Valsamakis

  2. Warwick Medical School, Warwick, UK

    Thomas M. Barber, Sudhesh Kumar & Georgios Valsamakis

  3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders, University Hospital of Larissa, Medical School of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece

    Alexandra Bargiota & Georgios Valsamakis

  4. Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Phillips Universitat Marburg, German Center of Lung Research, Marburg, Germany

    Chrysanthi Skevaki

  5. First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece

    Ioannis Papassotiriou

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  1. Marios Markopoulos
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  2. Thomas M. Barber
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Contributions

M.M. data collection and methodology. T.M.B. and S.K.: critical revision, design. A.B.: analysis of data, design. C.S., and I.P.: analysis of data. N.F.V.: final approval. G.M.: critical review, design, resources. G.V.: conceptualization, design, interpretation, drafting, final approval.

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Correspondence to Georgios Valsamakis.

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This study was performed in line with principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee Aretaieion University Hospital Ethnikon and Kapodistriakon University of Athens (1535, Aretaieion Hospital, June 2011).

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Markopoulos, M., Barber, T.M., Bargiota, A. et al. Acute iv CRH administration significantly increases serum active ghrelin in postmenopausal PCOS women compared to postmenopausal controls. Endocrine 81, 613–620 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-023-03406-7

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