Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
09:44
Evaluation of Hepatic Glucose Production in a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Mouse Model
Published on: March 5, 2022
Brain alteration of PCOS: neuroimaging and function
Ningxiao Jiang1, Jie Deng2, Changjin Bao3
1Department of Reproductive Medicine, Shandong Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Shandong Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Binzhou, Shandong Province, China.
Frontiers in Neurology
|June 29, 2026
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is linked to brain abnormalities, including pituitary enlargement and reduced gray matter. These neuroimaging changes may explain cognitive and emotional issues in PCOS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Neuroimaging
- Women's Health
Background:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder with poorly understood pathogenesis.
- PCOS is significantly associated with structural and functional brain abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review neuroimaging alterations and functional brain changes in PCOS patients.
- To explore relationships between brain changes, endocrine-metabolic profiles, behavior, cognition, and emotion.
Main Methods:
- Review of neuroimaging studies in PCOS patients.
- Analysis of structural changes (pituitary, gray matter, corpus callosum) and functional activity.
- Correlation with endocrine-metabolic, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional data.
Main Results:
- Observed pituitary gland enlargement, reduced gray matter volume, and corpus callosum damage.
- Brain alterations correlate with abnormal glucose metabolism, disordered eating, and cognitive/emotional changes.
- Elevated μ-opioid receptor binding and altered orbitofrontal cortex activity noted.
Conclusions:
- Neuroimaging findings suggest limbic system dysfunction underlying PCOS symptoms.
- Brain alterations offer insights into PCOS pathophysiology and potential therapeutic targets.
- Further research is needed to clarify mechanistic questions in PCOS neurobiology.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:14Brain Imaging
Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
01:22Gut-Brain Axis
The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...