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Author Spotlight: Investigating the Mechanisms and Inducing Models of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Published on: July 5, 2024
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Hormonal changes in PCOS.
Jianmei Yang1,2, Chen Chen2
1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
The Journal of Endocrinology
|January 29, 2024
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) involves hormonal imbalances affecting reproductive-age women. Understanding these hormone changes, like insulin and androgens, is key for diagnosing and treating PCOS symptoms and related metabolic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age.
- Key features include hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries, chronic anovulation, and metabolic disturbances.
- Hormonal dysregulation significantly contributes to the diverse pathological symptoms observed in PCOS.
Approach:
- This narrative review synthesizes current research on hormonal alterations in PCOS.
- It examines changes in insulin, growth hormone (GH), ghrelin, LEAP-2, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio, androgens, and estrogens.
- The review also includes less commonly discussed hormones like asprosin and subfatin.
Key Points:
- Specific hormonal changes in PCOS include elevated insulin, reduced GH, increased ghrelin, and leptin resistance, correlating with diabetes and obesity.
- Infertility in PCOS is linked to reduced GH, elevated LEAP-2, high LH basal levels, increased LH/FSH ratio, high androgens, and low estrogen.
- Abnormalities in hormones such as progesterone also contribute to the complex PCOS phenotype.
Conclusions:
- Clarifying the intricate hormonal profile changes in PCOS is crucial.
- Identifying these specific hormone alterations may unveil novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for PCOS.
- Further research into hormones like asprosin and subfatin could offer new avenues for PCOS management.
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