Volume 3 No. 3, July 2008

Role of Ghrelin and Adiponectin in Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Effect of Metformin

Maessa M. El-Nahas1, Heba A. Mahmoud2, Manal M. Abdulla3 & Manal El-Batch4

Departments of Physiology1, Pharmacology2, Gynecology3 & Biochemistry4, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt
Tanta Med. Sc. J 2008; 3(3):38-47
Article type: Original article

Aim: this work has been designed to study the role played by ghrelin and adiponectin in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to study the effect of metformin which has insulin sensitizing properties on PCOS and on ghrelin and adiponectin to connect metabolic changes with reproductive changes. Subjects and methods: this study included ten lean females (BMI <27 Kg/ m2) as control, another ten age matched obese females (BMI >30 Kg/ m2 ) and twenty age matched obese females (BMI > 30 Kg/ m2 ) patients with PCOS divided into two subgroups under placebo or metformin 850mg three times daily for 6 months. Assessed biochemical and hormonal parameters involved fasting plasma glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR, lutenizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), androstenedione, ghrelin and adiponectin. Results: both fasting glucose and insulin are increased significantly in obese and obese PCOS than lean subjects also HOMA-IR is significantly increased but decreased significantly after metformin. LH, FSH and androstenedione are significantly increased in obese and obese PCOS than lean females while SHBG, ghrelin and adiponectin decreased significantly in obese and obese PCOS than lean and significantly increased after metformin treatment. Significant positive correlation between ghrelin and adiponectin in both obese and obese PCOS before treatment but significant negative correlation between ghrelin, BMI, HOMA-IR and androstenedione also significant negative correlation between adiponectin, BMI, HOMA-IR. Conclusion: our study suggested that in obese and obese PCOS ghrelin and adiponectin were decreased which suggest metabolic disorders and returned to normal after correction of insulin resistance by metformin. Other studies are suggested to determine effect of hypocaloric diet and physical exercise.

ICID 870836