Effects of salubrinal on ER stress in an experimental model of polycystic ovary syndrome.

This study aimed to investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the effect of salubrinal (SAL) on this role. Animals were divided into four groups as control, PCOS, PCOS+SAL and SAL. Weights and serum testosterone levels were increased in the PCOS group while serum LH and ATF4 expressions were decreased. Morphometrically, number of follicles with a diameter between 150 and 300 µm were declined and number of follicles larger than 300 µm as well as the percentage of cystic follicles (CFs) were increased. Immunoreactivities of GRP78 and p-eIF2α were decreased, whereas oxidative stress (OS) dependent PAR expression was increased. Ultrastructurally, the PCOS group had no ER enlargement which was observed in the control group, while there were mitochondrial damage in granulosa cells (GCs). Elevated OS levels did not induce but rather decreased ER stress in GCs, and SAL injection in the PCOS model was ineffective on searched parameters. Since ER stress plays roles in certain physiological processes, we suggest that inhibitors of ER stress may not be always useful for reproductive tissues.

Significantly lengthened telomere in granulosa cells from women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

PURPOSE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among women at reproductive age. However, its etiology remains poorly understood. Recent studies indicated that telomere length was related to PCOS. However, the association between telomere length and PCOS has only been shown in leucocytes and remained controversial across different studies. To clarify the association between telomere length and PCOS, the current study interrogated telomere length not only in leucocytes, but also in follicular granulosa cells, which is essential for folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with PCOS and 81 controls with mechanical infertility undergoing their first in vitro fertilization cycle were enrolled. Their peripheral blood and granulosa cells were collected on the oocyte retrieval day. Telomere length of both leucocytes in the blood and granulosa cells was assayed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the leucocyte telomere length between controls and PCOS patients (0.99 ± 0.44 vs. 1.00 ± 0.38, p = 0.93). Interestingly, when comparing telomere length in granulosa cells between controls and PCOS subjects, significantly lengthened telomere length was found in PCOS subjects (1.00 ± 0.37 vs. 1.57±0.67, p < 0.0001). After adjustments for age and body mass index, the p value remained significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This finding reinforced the association between telomere abnormalities and PCOS. Given the importance of telomere length in cellular proliferation, our findings provided novel insights into the pathophysiology of PCOS that abnormalities in telomere length possibly disturb folliculogenesis and subsequently result in PCOS.

Scanning electron and light microscopy study of the cervical mucus in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Two types of cervical mucus are recognized, oestrogenic and gestagenic. These are constituted by different subtypes, and their characteristics change depending on variations in the hormonal levels and on the existence of several pathologies. Our aim was to identify the ultrastructure and crystallization characteristics of the cervical mucus in women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome, and to compare these characteristics with those of normal control women. Cervical mucus samples were taken from 10 women, 4 control group women (with normal ovulatory menstrual cycles) and 6 suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (2 with ovulatory and 4 with anovulatory cycles). This mucus was characterized according to its ultrastructure and crystallization. The type of mucus obtained was related to the levels of oestradiol and progesterone present when the samples were taken. As regards mucus ultrastructure, differences were found between the control women and those with polycystic ovary syndrome and anovulatory menstrual cycles. Such variations were evident in the type of mesh and the average diameter of the mucus pores. Mucus crystallization in control women showed the usual oestrogenic disposition: fern-like (L, P2), rectilinear (S) or a hexagonal structure (P6). On the other hand, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, indefinite mucus crystallizations were found, as well as crystallization patches resembling oestrogenic and gestagenic-like mucus. This study shows that the ultrastructure and crystallization characteristics of the cervical mucus in polycystic ovary syndrome women are different from those of control women. The latter would be dependent on their levels of oestradiol and progesterone.

Histochemical study of the extracellular matrix components in the follicular wall of induced polycystic ovaries

Numerous models have been developed to study polycystic ovarian syndrome in rats. In the present study, the syndrome was induced by exposure to constant light. The histological structure and differential distribution of extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers as well as the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) content and composition of the ovarian follicular wall of rats with polycystic syndrome were evaluated. Histochemical differences were observed in the graunlosa and theca externa of follicular cysts when compared to normal preovulatory follicles. The colagen content of the theca externa of follicular cysts, quantified by the picrosirius method, was higher than in the controls. The neural carbohydrate and acidic GAC levels were lower in the granulosa and higher in the theca externa of cyst follicles than in control ovaries. Histomorphometrically, the follicular diameter was both a convenient and appropriate measurement for describing the cyst status; there were no differences in the thickness of each follicular layer. In conclusion, differences in the components of ECM were observed in the follicular wall of ovarian cysts compared eith normal preovulatory follicles. Howere, sinde these changes did not occur uniformly in all layers of the follicular wall, their role in cyst development remains to be established.

Inducción de un modelo murino de síndrome de ovarios poliquísticos: Valoración laparoscópica histológica y endocrina. Utilidad clínica / Induction of a murine model of the polycystic ovary syndrome: Laparoscopic, histologic and endocrine evaluation. Clinical usefulness

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto del tratamiento endoscópico del síndrome de ovarios poliquísticos en un modelo murino inducido con estrógeno de depósito: Material y métodos: Grupo 1 (control, n = 15) ratas con inhibición de la actividad gonadotrópica y tres grupos con síndrome de ovarios poliquísticos: grupo 2 (n = 22) evaluadas exclusivamante por laparoscopia; grupo 3 (n = 11) fue efectuada una fulguración en cada ovario durante el procedimientos endoscópico; y grupo 4 (n = 10) con tres fulguraciones en cada ovario. Un mes después de la cirugía, los animales fueron sacrificados y se realizó estudio de los órganos intraabdominales mediante microscopio quirúrgico y evaluación histológica de las gónadas. Resultados: Todos los animales tuvieron síndrome de ovarios poliquísticos. Los del grupo 1 no desarrollaron adherencias; mientras que los del grupo 3 las presentaron en 36.3 por ciento de los casos y hubo atrofía gonadal en 18.1 por ciento. El 66.6 por ciento de las ratas del grupo 3 tuvieron adherencias intraabdominales. Hubo diferencia significativa en el grado de formación de adherencias cuando se compararon los grupos 3 y 4 con el grupo 2. Conclusiones: El uso de estrógeno de depósito es útil para la producción del síndrome de ovarios poliquísticos en animales de experimentación. El procedimiento puede emplearse para estudiar los efectos de la inducción quirúrgica de la ovulación; su utilización en otras condiciones también parece ser promisorio

Ovaries in sexual precocity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ovarian ultrasonography may be helpful in distinguishing the various types of precocious puberty, and the ovarian appearances increasingly influence choice of therapy in these girls. We examined retrospectively the ovarian volume and prevalence of polycystic ovarian appearance at ultrasound in girls with sexual precocity. DESIGN: Ultrasound examinations were obtained from girls who presented with sexual precocity. If there were several scans from the same individual, the latest was analysed. PATIENTS: The girls were divided into groups: untreated central precocious puberty (n = 25), central precocious puberty treated with GnRH analogue (n = 18) or with GnRH analogue and recombinant human GH (n = 11), girls who had stopped treatment with GnRH analogue and GH (n = 12), premature thelarche and thelarche variant (n = 15) and premature adrenarche (n = 14). MEASUREMENTS: Ovarian volume was calculated and the ovaries were assessed for polycystic appearance using standard criteria. Ovarian volume standard deviation (SD) scores were calculated using means and standard deviations derived from a control population and compared using analysis of variance. Differences from control data were assessed using Student's t-test. RESULTS: Ovarian volume SD scores for all the groups studied were greater than those for control subjects. Girls who had stopped treatment with GnRH analogue and GH had mean ovarian volume of 6.98 ml and ovarian volume SD score (+1.72) greater than that of girls having treatment with GnRH analogue alone (+1.24). Polycystic appearance ovaries were found in 83% of scans in girls who had stopped treatment with GnRH analogue and GH. The ovarian volume SD score of girls with premature adrenarche was less than that of girls with untreated central precocious puberty. CONCLUSIONS: Girls with central precocious puberty had large ovaries which did not return to a volume appropriate for age. Girls treated with GnRH analogue and GH developed very large ovaries when they stopped treatment, and had an increased prevalence of ovaries with a polycystic appearance. Central precocious puberty, or some aspect of its treatment, results in an increased prevalence of polycystic ovarian appearance.

Observaçöes morfológicas do ovário policístico de rata: I estudo histoquímico do colágeno / Morphological aspects of the ovary of the rat

Os autores descrevem os aspectos morfológicos do ovário de ratas em estro permanente, com ênfase para distribuiçäo dos tipos de colágeno, utilizando o método do Picrosírius-Polarizaçäo. Os dados obtidos säo indicativos de que o colágeno, particularmente os tipos Ie III, säo susceptíveis a hiperplasia na dependência de açäo hormonal