BACKGROUND Insulin resistance and the associated compensatory hyperinsulinemia are common findings in women with PCOS, and may play a key role in this condition. METHODS In this article, we focused on the significance of insulin resistance in PCOS, reviewing the available literature on epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology and treatment of this condition. RESULTS It has been estimated...

OBJECTIVE ADAMTS-1 is a matrix metalloproteinase which cleaves versican in the cumulus oocyte complex under the effect of luteinizing hormone surge in the periovulatory period. Altered levels may have a role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We aimed to determine the serum versican and ADAMTS-1 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif-1) levels in PC...

AIMS We evaluated the links between leptin and visfatin levels and fertilization rates in nonoverweight (NOW) women with PCOS (NOW-PCOS) from Apulia undergoing in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF). MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY We recruited 16 NOW women with PCOS (NOW-PCOS) and 10 normally ovulating NOW women (control-NOW). All women underwent IVF. Androgens, 17- β -estradiol (17 β -E2), ...

Several investigations have focused on the relationship between paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) polymorphisms and the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); however, the result remains conflicting. To obtain a more precise estimation of the correlation between PON-1 polymorphisms [rs705379 C>T (-108C/T), rs854560 T>A (55Leu/ Met) and rs662 A>G (192Gln/Arg)] and the risk of PCOS, we performed a meta-an...

In order to evaluate the acute insulin response after i.v. injection of glucagon in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), 35 women affected by PCOS and 11 normo-ovulatory controls underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and, 2 days later, a glucagon test (1 mg i.v.). Patients were analysed according to their degree of obesity; the insulin release after glucagon injection for lean PCOS s...

It is established that the physiological effects of insulin are primarily mediated by the insulin signaling pathway. However, a defective insulin signaling is closely associated with the clinical manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which include excess androgen levels, insulin resistance and anovulation, and is involved in the pathophysiology of PCOS at the molecular level. Dime...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries, is a complex endocrinopathy. Because the cause of PCOS at the molecular level is largely unknown, there is no cure or specific treatment for PCOS. Here, we show that transplantation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) reversed anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries in a de...

BACKGROUND Recent research shows that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may have an association with low-grade chronic inflammation, and that PCOS may induce an increase in serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels. METHODS To investigate the polymorphisms of the IL-18 gene promoters with PCOS, two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter of the IL-18 gene (at positions -607C/A and -13...

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND; Previous studies have indicated that peripheral circulating markers of inflammation are elevated in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but thus far no studies concerning markers of inflammation in adipose tissue have been published. The aim of the study was to investigate whether patients with PCOS display increased expression of inflammatory markers in adipose ...

Background: Trinucleotide repeats CAG (n) in androgen receptor gene is thought to be central to PCOS genetic susceptibility. However, previous studies of PCOS have shown variable association of CAG (n) polymorphism with PCOS. Objective: To assess the association of the AR gene CAG repeat length polymorphism with PCOS among Egyption patients, and its influence on clinical and biochemical androge...