Steroid Hormone Profiling in Hyperandrogenism and Non-hyperandrogenism Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The purpose of this study is to explore the differences in the steroid metabolic network between hyperandrogenic and non-hyperandrogenic women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed for the quantification of 36 kinds of serum steroids in 80 PCOS women during their follicular phase. Compared with those in non-hyperandrogenemia PCOS women (NA-PCOS), the levels of 17-hydroprogesterone (P = 0.009), androstenedione (P < 0.001), total testosterone (P < 0.001), dihydrotestosterone (P = 0.025), estrone (P = 0.007), and estradiol (P < 0.001) were increased in hyperandrogenemia PCOS (HA-PCOS) women. It was suggested that HA-PCOS may have increased activity of P450c17 (17-hydropregnenolone/pregnenolone, P = 0.008), 3 beta HSD2 (androstenedione/dehydroepiandrosterone, P = 0.004), and 17 beta HSD3 (testosterone/dehydroepiandrosterone, P = 0.01) and decreased activity of 5 alpha reductase (dihydrotestosterone/testosterone, P = 0.008). Moreover, the ratio of luteinizing hormone (LH) to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was found to be related to these increased steroids and enzyme activities. In conclusion, the HA-PCOS and the NA-PCOS women showed different steroid profiles, and the different enzyme activities in steroidogenic pathway may be the main reason for the difference.

Automated summary

This study explores the differences in steroid metabolism between hyperandrogenic and non-hyperandrogenic women with PCOS. The findings suggest that hyperandrogenic women have increased levels of certain steroids and enzyme activities, while non-hyperandrogenic women do not. The ratio of LH to FSH is also found to be related to these differences.