Experimentally Induced Hyperinsulinemia Fails to Induce Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-like Traits in Female Rhesus Macaques.

As in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hyperinsulinemia is associated with anovulation in PCOS-like female rhesus monkeys. Insulin sensitizers ameliorate hyperinsulinemia and stimulate ovulatory menstrual cycles in PCOS-like monkeys. To determine whether hyperinsulinemia (>694 pmol/L), alone, induces PCOS-like traits, five PCOS-like female rhesus monkeys with minimal PCOS-like traits, and four control females of similar mid-to-late reproductive years and body mass index, received daily subcutaneous injections of recombinant human insulin or diluent for 6−7 months.

Fetal programming of adrenal androgen excess: lessons from a nonhuman primate model of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Adrenal androgen excess is found in adult female rhesus monkeys previously exposed to androgen treatment during early gestation. In adulthood, such prenatally androgenized female monkeys exhibit elevated basal circulating levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), typical of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women with adrenal androgen excess. Further androgen and glucocorticoid abnormalities in PA female monkeys are revealed by acute ACTH stimulation: DHEA, androstenedione and corticosterone responses are all elevated compared to responses in controls.

Pioglitazone improves insulin action and normalizes menstrual cycles in a majority of prenatally androgenized female rhesus monkeys.

Purpose Of The Study: To determine whether pioglitazone will improve menstrual cyclicity in a fetal programming model for polycystic ovary syndrome.

Basic Procedures: Eight prenatally androgenized (PA) and 5 control female rhesus monkeys of similar age, body weight and body mass index received an oral placebo daily for 6-7 months followed, after at least 90 days, by daily oral dosing with pioglitazone (3mg/kg) for an additional 6-7 months. Blood was sampled thrice weekly to monitor ovulatory function, and a variety of endocrine challenges were performed to quantify changes in ovarian, gonadotropin and glucoregulatory function.

Adrenal hyperandrogenism is induced by fetal androgen excess in a rhesus monkey model of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Context: Adrenal androgen excess is found in approximately 25-60% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the mechanisms underlying PCOS-related adrenal androgen excess are unclear.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether adrenal androgen excess is manifest in a nonhuman primate model for PCOS.

Participants: Six prenatally androgenized (PA) and six control female rhesus monkeys of similar age, body weight, and body mass index were studied during d 2-6 of two menstrual cycles or anovulatory 30-d periods.

Reduced intrafollicular androstenedione and estradiol levels in early-treated prenatally androgenized female rhesus monkeys receiving follicle-stimulating hormone therapy for in vitro fertilization.

Five early-treated and four late-treated prenatally androgenized and five normal female rhesus monkeys were studied to determine whether prenatal testosterone propionate exposure beginning Gestational Days 40-44 (early-treated) or 100-115 (late-treated) affects follicular steroidogenesis during recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) treatment. All monkeys underwent rhFSH injections, without human chorionic gonadotropin administration, followed by oocyte retrieval. Serum FSH, LH, estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17 OHP), androstenedione (A4), testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone were measured basally during rhFSH therapy and at oocyte retrieval.

Impaired developmental competence of oocytes in adult prenatally androgenized female rhesus monkeys undergoing gonadotropin stimulation for in vitro fertilization.

To determine whether prenatal T propionate exposure beginning gestational d 40-44 (early-treated) or 100-115 (late-treated) affects oocyte competence, five early-treated and five late-treated prenatally androgenized and five normal monkeys underwent recombinant human FSH injections with oocyte-retrieval after hCG administration. Serum FSH, LH, estradiol (E(2)), progesterone (P(4)), androstenedione (A(4)), T, and dihydrotestosterone were measured basally, during gonadotropin stimulation and at oocyte-retrieval; fasting serum glucose and insulin also were determined basally and at oocyte-retrieval. Follicle fluid sex steroids were analyzed.