Endocrine Abstracts

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy with hyperandrogenemia to be its strongest genetically determined characteristic. Our aim was to investigate the potential synergy of two functional polymorphisms: the (TAAAA)n polymorphism of the sex hormone-binding globulin gene (SHBG) known to be associated with PCOS and influence serum SHBG levels (longer repeats were associated with lower SHBG levels) and the (CAG)n polymorphism of androgen receptor gene (...

Background of study: Experimental research supports the hypothesis that fetal exposure to androgen excess may programme in utero the development of PCOS in adult life. Potential mechanisms for prenatal androgenization could be a reduced binding capacity of androgens by SHBG or reduced aromatization of androgens by aromatase. The aim of this study was to examine whether the SHBG(TAAAA)n polymorphism, known to be associated with SHBG levels and the CYP19(TTTA)n<...