Search

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women at reproductive age. However, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms have not been completely understood. Hyperandrogenism is an important clinic feature in patients with PCOS, suggesting its pathologic role in the development and progression of PCOS. However, the actual role of androgen and the related signals in PCOS and PCOS‐related complications have not yet been clarified. In this review, we surveyed the origin and effects of androgen on PCOS and the related complications, highlighted the cellular signals affecting androgen synthesis and summarized the pathological processes caused by hyperandrogenism. Our review well reveals the important mechanisms referring the pathogenesis of PCOS and provides important clues to the clinic strategies in patients with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many researchers have shown that renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in various important aspects of male reproduction. In this study, we assessed whether abnormal levels of seminal angiotensinogen (AGT) may be associated with semen parameters in infertile males. A total of 115 male patients were recruited, and semen parameters, seminal AGT and the electrolytes including K+, Na+, Cl−, P and Ca were evaluated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 criteria, the patients were divided into two groups: G1 group with normal semen parameters (n = 42) and G2 group with subnormal semen parameters (n = 73). The level of seminal AGT was significantly higher in G2 group compared with G1 group. Moreover, the level of AGT was negatively correlated with the percentage of total motility (r = −.322, p = .000), progressive motility (PR) (r = −.339, p = .000) and morphologically normal forms (r = −.263, p = .004). This study suggests that elevated seminal AGT level is associated with increased risk of asthenospermia and teratozoospermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is closely related with the onset and development of metabolic abnormalities. However, the correlation between PCOS and kidney injury has not been clarified, and the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Herein, we performed a prospective survey in 55 PCOS and 69 healthy participants. Furthermore, the correlation analyses between serum testosterone and renal functional manifestations of patients and healthy subjects, including urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR), urinary κ‐light chains (KapU), urinary λ‐light chains (LamU), urinary α1‐microglobulin (α1‐MU), and urinary β2‐microglobulin (β2‐MU), were analyzed. Compared with that in normal subjects, the levels of serum testosterone and UACR were significantly higher in PCOS patients. Serum testosterone is significantly correlated with the disease severity of PCOS. Although urinary excretions of KapU, LamU, α1‐MU, and β2‐MU did not increase in PCOS patients, they had a significantly positive correlation with the extent of serum testosterone in PCOS patients. IN vitro, primary cultured human ovary granulosa cells (GCs) were isolated from the follicular fluid (FF) extracting from PCOS patients and controls. FF, especially which extracted from PCOS patients with a high expression of serum testosterone, significantly induced cell apoptosis and inflammation in human GCs. To examine the communication between PCOS and kidney injury, a human proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HKC‐8) was cultured and administered FF. Interestingly, FF from PCOS patients with a higher level of serum testosterone induced fibrotic lesions in HKC‐8 cells. These data suggest serum testosterone plays a critical role in PCOS and PCOS‐associated kidney injury. Serum testosterone may serve as a promising indicator for kidney fibrotic injury outcomes in PCOS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]