RESUMO

The objective of the present study was to examine some factors involved in follicular development of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS showed increased levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) but decreased follicular production of progesterone and estradiol by pre-ovulatory follicles. The mRNA expression corresponding to steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) was increased, while that corresponding to cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) was decreased in PCOS follicles as compared to controls. No changes in the mRNA expression for 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (3ß-HSD2), cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc), cytochrome P450 17 alpha hydroxylase/lyase (P450c17), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and transcription factors (GATA-4 and GATA-6) were found. We conclude that despite the hyper-luteinized environment of PCOS follicles, these follicles produce lower levels of progesterone and estradiol, and that this is characterized by increased degradation of progesterone and decreased estradiol synthesis. Our data demonstrate that the synthesis of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) may be affected in PCOS-follicles and that the transcription factors GATA-4 and GATA-6 are present in PCOS-follicles but they are not involved in the abnormal transcription observed in the steroidogenic enzymes.

Assuntos

Folículo Ovariano/patologia , Síndrome do Ovário Policístico/patologia , 20-alfa-Hidroxiesteroide Desidrogenase/biossíntese , 20-alfa-Hidroxiesteroide Desidrogenase/genética , 3-Hidroxiesteroide Desidrogenases/biossíntese , 3-Hidroxiesteroide Desidrogenases/genética , Aromatase/biossíntese , Aromatase/genética , Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/biossíntese , Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/genética , Estradiol/biossíntese , Feminino , Fator de Transcrição GATA4/genética , Fator de Transcrição GATA4/fisiologia , Fator de Transcrição GATA6/genética , Fator de Transcrição GATA6/fisiologia , Humanos , Hormônio Luteinizante/sangue , Folículo Ovariano/metabolismo , Fosfoproteínas/biossíntese , Fosfoproteínas/genética , Síndrome do Ovário Policístico/sangue , Síndrome do Ovário Policístico/enzimologia , Síndrome do Ovário Policístico/metabolismo , Progesterona/biossíntese , RNA Mensageiro/biossíntese , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Esteroide 17-alfa-Hidroxilase/biossíntese , Esteroide 17-alfa-Hidroxilase/genética