ANDROGENS STIMULATE EARLY STAGES OF FOLLICULAR-GROWTH IN THE PRIMATE OVARY

The concept that androgens are atretogenic, derived from murine ovary studies, is difficult to reconcile with the fact that hyperandrogenic women have more developing follicles than normal-cycling women, To eva luate androgen's effects on primate follicular growth and survival, no rmal-cycling rhesus monkeys were treated with placebo-, testosterone-( T), or dihydrotestosterone-sustained release implants, and ovaries wer e taken for histological analysis after 3-10 d of treatment, Growing p reantral and small antral follicles up to 1 mm in diameter were signif icantly and progressively increased in number and thecal layer thickne ss in T-treated monkeys from 3-10 d. Granulosa and thecal cell prolife ration, as determined by immunodetection of the Ki67 antigen, were sig nificantly increased in these follicles, Preovulatory follicles (> 1 m m), however, were not increased in number in androgen-treated animals, Follicular atresia was not increased and there were actually signific antly fewer apoptotic granulosa cells in the T-treated groups. Dihydro testosterone treatment had identical effects, indicating that these gr owth-promoting actions are mediated by the androgen receptor. These fi ndings show that, over the short term at least, androgens are not atre togenic and actually enhance follicular growth and survival in the pri mate. These new data provide a plausible explanation for the pathogene sis of ''polycystic'' ovaries in hyperandrogenism.