Obese Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Evidence that Metformin Does Not Restore Sensitivity of the Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Pulse Generator to Inhibition by Ovarian Steroids

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 88; no. 11; pp. 5158 - 5162
• Main Authors: Eagleson, Christine A, Bellows, Amy B, Hu, Kathy, Gingrich, Melissa B, Marshall, John C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.11.2003; Copyright by The Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Adult; Androstenedione - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Estrone - blood; Feedback, Physiological - drug effects; Female; Female genital diseases; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - administration & dosage; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Metformin - administration & dosage; Non tumoral diseases; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - complications; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - drug therapy; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - metabolism; Pulsatile Flow; Testosterone - blood; Tumors; Human; Obesity; Nutrition disorder; Gonadotropin RH; Female sterility; Polycystic ovary; Biological activity; Female genital diseases; Ovarian diseases; Hypoglycemic agent; Chemotherapy; Sensitivity; Biguanides; Cyst; Female; Benign neoplasm; Metformin; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2003-030167

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have reduced GnRH sensitivity to suppression by ovarian steroids, which can be ameliorated by androgen blockade. We studied nine PCOS women and nine controls to determine whether metformin could change feedback inhibition by estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P). LH was measured every 10 min, and FSH, E2, P, and testosterone (T) were measured every 2 h. Frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance test was performed at the end of each admission. After the first admission, metformin (500 mg, three times a day) was started. The second admission occurred on d 8–11 of the next menstrual cycle in controls and on d 28 in PCOS patients. Patients subsequently took E2 and P for 1 wk until the third admission. At baseline, PCOS women had higher T, free T, androstenedione, and estrone. After 4 wk of metformin, controls had a slight reduction in total T, but free T was unchanged. However, PCOS patients had reduced insulin, T, and E2, and increased LH mean/amplitude and FSH. After ovarian steroids, controls had a greater reduction in LH pulse frequency than PCOS (61 vs. 25%). These results suggest that the beneficial effects of metformin on ovulatory function in obese PCOS women are probably not mediated by enhanced hypothalamic sensitivity.