GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTORS ON MONONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES IN POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME

Objective. Many studies have suggested that there is a possible hormon al dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and an i ncreased cortisol clearance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Therefore in this study, we have examined the role of glucoco rticoid receptor/s (GR) characteristics in the developing of these abn ormalities in patients with PCOS. Method. For this purpose, the number and affinity of GR in peripheral mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) of 10 p atients with PCOS and 10 healthy women (controls) were determined. Res ults. There were no significant differences in the number (6500 +/- 10 01 sites/cell and 6352 +/- 1697 sites/cell, respectively; P > 0.05) an d affinity (3.93 +/- 0.89 nM and 4.49 +/- 0.71 nM, respectively; P > 0 .05) of GR between the PCOS patients and the controls. Conclusions. Th ese results suggest that the alterations in the HPA axis and in the co rtisol metabolism observed in PCOS are not related to GR deficiency. ( C) 1998 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.