Theca Cell Function in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2010-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The mechanism for increased androgen production in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS) is not well understood. Excess androgen production by the ovary is stimulated by
increased pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in this disorder. The investigators
hypothesize that in PCOS women ovarian theca cells, which are responsible for androgen
synthesis, are more sensitive to LH stimulation compared to that of theca cells from normal
women. To test this hypothesis, the investigators propose to conduct a dose-response study in
which androgen responses to multiple doses of human chorionic gonadotgropin (hCG), an LH
surrogate, will be assessed in PCOS and normal women.