Localization and Physiological Actions of Adiponectin and Kisspeptin in Normal and Polycystic Ovaries of Mice and Human

Abstract

newlineThe polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the leading causes of infertility due to anovulation in women. It affects upto 10% women of reproductive age and over 75% of all cases of anovulatory infertility. It is a multifactorial disorder characterized by chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism (HA), hyperinsulinemia (HI), insulin resistance (IR), polycystic ovary and recurrent miscarriage. About half of women with PCOS are obese. The mechanism of anovulation is uncertain, but there is evidence of incomplete development of antral follicle, which might be due to abnormal interaction of insulin and luteinizing hormone (LH) on granulosa cells. Decreased fertility in PCOS may also be due to changed levels of gonadotropin- releasing hormone, gonadotropins, HA and HI. Despite the prevalence of PCOS worldwide, a clear understanding of the aetiology, pathophysiology and treatment of this syndrome remains inconclusive. The heterogeneous pathophysiology of PCOS results in a number of constraints for its management. If PCOS is not corrected, it may lead to other serious consequences such as Type II diabetes mellitus, cardio-vascular diseases, ovarian and endometrial cancer, depression etc. Thus, PCOS is a major issue for women s health with ramifications well beyond the reproductive age