Elevated maternal androgen is associated with dysfunctional placenta and lipid disorder in newborns of mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome

Does a compromised placenta contribute to transgenerational transmission of metabolic dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome?

“…This report not only confirms PCOS placental morphological and steroidogenic pathology, but also demonstrates hormonal and metabolic programming of exposed infants (5). Clinically referred, pregnant Chinese women with a single fetus, and without pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, or other endocrine abnormalities during pregnancy, were selected from pre-pregnancy Rotterdam PCOS criteria, excluding other endocrine disorders, and delivered by cesarean section (C-section) at term (5). The PCOS women were age-matched to pregnant women without PCOS, but were on average overweight prior to pregnancy, unlike controls.…”

“…Because the majority of births delivered male infants in women with and without PCOS, and the study subject numbers are relatively small, the offspring sex bias precluded statistical analyses of daughters alone. Placental weights, birth weights, and birth lengths were comparable, and the latter were typical for gestational age (5). Fetal umbilical cord blood parameters indicated hyperlipidemia in offspring born to women with PCOS, with respect to increased levels of total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), as well as adrenal hyperandrogenism (5).…”

“…In Sun and colleagues' most recent clinical observation study (5), our understanding of compromised placental function and morphology during hyperandrogenic PCOS gestation is taken one step further. This report not only confirms PCOS placental morphological and steroidogenic pathology, but also demonstrates hormonal and metabolic programming of exposed infants (5).…”

“…In Sun and colleagues' most recent clinical observation study (5), our understanding of compromised placental function and morphology during hyperandrogenic PCOS gestation is taken one step further. This report not only confirms PCOS placental morphological and steroidogenic pathology, but also demonstrates hormonal and metabolic programming of exposed infants (5). Clinically referred, pregnant Chinese women with a single fetus, and without pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, or other endocrine abnormalities during pregnancy, were selected from pre-pregnancy Rotterdam PCOS criteria, excluding other endocrine disorders, and delivered by cesarean section (C-section) at term (5).…”

“…The rationale for C-section, however, was not given, and histories relating to the use of assisted reproductive technology, parity, previous pregnancy complications, smoking, and medication were also absent. Typical of pregnant hyperandrogenic women with PCOS, and in contrast to control women, gestational weight gain exceeded recommended guidelines and was $40% greater in women with PCOS (5). By term, women with PCOS had elevated circulating levels of cholesterol and apolipotropin B, but controlcomparable glucoregulatory parameters and levels of circulating cytokines, except for diminished levels of antiinflammatory interleukin-10 (5).…”