Endocrine Abstracts

Central obesity and increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) are key factors contributing to metabolic dysfunction in PCOS. We therefore hypothesized that there would be alterations in the morphology and function of adipocytes from visceral fat depots. The female offspring of pregnant sheep treated biweekly with either 100 mg of testosterone propionate (TP) or vehicle control (C) from day 62–102 of gestation develop a clinically realistic PCOS-like condition. They develop ...

Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are at increased risk of developing insulin resistance, obesity and dyslipidemia, however obesity per se does not explain the higher incidence of insulin resistance in PCOS women when compared to the general population. Altered adipose tissue morphology and function may be a central factor contributing to metabolic disturbances in PCOS. Using a clinically realistic ovine model of PCOS we reported hyperinsulinaemia and early ...

Exposure of pregnant sheep to increased concentrations of testosterone during midgestation results in a PCOS-like condition in the female offspring that includes increased hepatic IGF1. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular pathophysiology of this increase. We studied 11-month-old female offspring whose mother had been treated with testosterone propionate (TP: 100 mg) in oil (n=8), or oil control (n=4) twice weekly from day 62 to 102 gestatio...

Background: The potential for a healthy life is programmed by in utero development. Fetal development is impacted by perturbed hormonal signalling, with lifelong consequences. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), affecting over 10% of women, is an important condition linked to an altered prenatal endocrine environment. Women with PCOS have increased androgen concentrations, including during pregnancy. Increased prenatal androgen exposure is associated with a PCOS-phenoty...

Introduction: Adult male offspring of women with PCOS have increased dyslipidaemia, characterised by elevated triglycerides (TG), increased total and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and hyperinsulinaemia. As altered intrauterine endocrine environments can ‘programme’ adverse health outcomes in adulthood we hypothesised that this dyslipidaemia was a consequence of a hyperandrogenic intrauterine environment. We used an outbred large animal model to identify if prenatal androg...

Introduction: Altered intrauterine endocrine environments can ‘programme’ adverse health outcomes. Linkage between altered androgen exposure in utero and adverse offspring health is robust. For example, increased maternal androgen concentrations and PCOS in female offspring and dyslipidaemia in male offspring. We hypothesised that the liver was a major target for androgenic programming in utero and hepatic dysfunction would be present in offspring. ...