Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Evaluation of Hepatic Glucose Production in a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Mouse Model
Published on: March 5, 2022
Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome
T M Barber1, M I McCarthy, J A H Wass
1Diabetes Research Laboratories, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. tom.barber@drl.ox.ac.uk
Abstract:
The aetiology of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is complex and multifactorial. There is much evidence, however, to suggest that adipose tissue plays an important role in the development and maintenance of PCOS pathology. There is a close correlation between adiposity and symptom severity in women with PCOS, and even modest reductions in weight generally translate into significant improvements in menstrual regularity, fertility and hyperandrogenic features. This review article considers the various mechanisms that might underlie this link between excess adiposity and PCOS - including the effects of differential insulin sensitivity, abnormal steroid hormone metabolism and adipocytokine secretion. Greater attention to the therapeutic options available to reduce the impact of excess adiposity on ovarian and metabolic function is essential to the management of PCOS.
Related Concept Videos
Obesity
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Oogenesis
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System

