Maternal serum androgens in pregnant women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: possible implications in prenatal androgenization

Sir-Petermann, Teresa; Maliqueo, Manuel; Ángel, Bárbara; Lara, Hernán E.; Pérez-Bravo, Francisco; Recabarren, Sergio E

doi:10.1093/humrep/17.10.2573

Cited by 345 publications

(250 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have ovaries with multiple cysts, menstrual disturbances and hyperandrogenism. Sir-Peterman reported that in PCOS women, maternal androgen levels are increased even in the pregnant state (26). Recently, the same authors published a study that showed a marked increase in the prevalence of SGA births in PCOS mothers compared with control pregnancies (12.8% vs 2.8%).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Maternal testosterone levels during pregnancy are associated with offspring size at birth

2006

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Objective: Animal studies have indicated that maternal androgen levels influence the intrauterine environment and development of the offspring. Human data are missing. We therefore investigated the possible association between maternal androgens and offspring size at birth in humans. Design: A random sample of parous Caucasian women (nZ147) was followed prospectively through pregnancy. Methods: Maternal serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione, testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured at gestational weeks 17 and 33. The main outcome measures were weight and length at birth. Associations between maternal androgen levels and offspring birth weight and length were investigated using multiple linear regression modeling adjusted for potential confounding by maternal height, pre-pregnancy body mass index, smoking, parity, offspring gender and gestational age at birth. Results: Elevated maternal testosterone levels at week 17 and 33 were both associated with lower birth weights and lengths. Accordingly, at week 17, an increase in maternal testosterone levels from the 25th to the 75th percentile was associated with a decrease in birth weight by 160 g (95% confidence interval (CI); 29-290 g), while at week 33 that estimate was 115 g (95% CI; 21-207 g). No similar associations were observed for DHEAS, androstenedione or SHBG. Conclusions: Elevated maternal testosterone levels during human pregnancy are associated with growth restriction in utero. Our results support animal studies, which have indicated that maternal androgen levels influence intrauterine offspring environment and development.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Maternal testosterone levels during pregnancy are associated with offspring size at birth

2006

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“…Another group served as a control and received an oil vehicle twice weekly from days 30 to 120 of gestation. This regimen of testosterone administration was chosen to reflect the higher levels of testosterone observed in women with PCOS during their pregnancies and has been used in previous studies (Sir-Petermann et al 2002, Recabarren et al 2008a.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The demonstration some years ago that pregnant PCOS women have higher circulating levels of androgen (Sir-Petermann et al 2002) raises the possibility that the offspring of these women are likely to be exposed to excess androgen during fetal life. Prospective longitudinal studies to evaluate the effect of prenatal testosterone excess are difficult to perform in humans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pituitary and testis responsiveness of young male sheep exposed to testosterone excess during fetal development

Recabarren¹,

Rojas-García²,

Einspanier³

et al. 2013

Reproduction

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Prenatal exposure to excess testosterone induces reproductive disturbances in both female and male sheep. In females, it alters the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis. In males, prenatal testosterone excess reduces sperm count and motility. Focusing on males, this study tested whether pituitary LH responsiveness to GNRH is increased in prenatal testosterone-exposed males and whether testicular function is compromised in the testosterone-exposed males. Control males (nZ6) and males born to ewes exposed to twice weekly injections of 30 mg testosterone propionate from days 30 to 90 and of 40 mg testosterone propionate from days 90 to 120 of gestation (nZ6) were studied at 20 and 30 weeks of age. Pituitary and testicular responsiveness was tested by administering a GNRH analog (leuprolide acetate). To complement the analyses, the mRNA expression of LH receptor (LHR) and that of steroidogenic enzymes were determined in testicular tissue. Basal LH and testosterone concentrations were higher in the testosterone-exposed-males. While LH response to the GNRH analog was higher in the testosterone-exposed males than in the control males, testosterone responses did not differ between the treatment groups. The testosterone:LH ratio was higher in the control males than in the testosterone-exposed males of 30 weeks of age, suggestive of reduced Leydig cell sensitivity to LH in the testosterone-exposed males. The expression of LHR mRNA was lower in the testosterone-exposed males, but the mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes did not differ between the groups. These findings indicate that prenatal testosterone excess has opposing effects at the pituitary and testicular levels, namely increased pituitary sensitivity to GNRH at the level of pituitary and decreased sensitivity of the testes to LH.

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“…Recientemente, hemos establecido que las embarazadas con SOP presentan niveles elevados de andrógenos pudiendo constituir una fuente de exceso de andrógenos para el feto 43 . No obstante, se desconoce si la gónada fetal de estos niños pudiese ser una fuente de excesiva producción de andrógenos condicionando una autoandrogenización similar a lo descrito para el déficit de 21-hidroxilasa.…”

Section: A R T í C U L Ounclassified

La exposición prenatal a andrógenos como factor de reprogramación fetal

Recabarren¹,

Sir-Petermann

Maliqueo

et al. 2006

Rev. méd. Chile

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Maternal serum androgens in pregnant women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: possible implications in prenatal androgenization

Abstract: The present study demonstrates a significant increase in androgen concentrations during pregnancy in PCOS women. We propose that these androgen concentrations could provide a potential source of androgen excess for the fetus, without leading to fetal virilization.

Cited by 345 publications

References 45 publications

Maternal testosterone levels during pregnancy are associated with offspring size at birth

Maternal testosterone levels during pregnancy are associated with offspring size at birth

Pituitary and testis responsiveness of young male sheep exposed to testosterone excess during fetal development

La exposición prenatal a andrógenos como factor de reprogramación fetal

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