Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 15 % of women of reproductive age. PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries and amenorrhea. Cardiovascular disease risk is higher in PCOS patients than age‐matched controls. In order to elucidate the cardiovascular consequences of hyperandrogenism in PCOS, 3 week‐old female SD rats were given dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (pellets, 7.5mg/90days) or placebo. After 12 weeks, plasma DHT was increased 5‐fold and plasma estradiol was unchanged compared to untreated females. DHT‐rats were not estrous cycling and had increased number of ovarian atresic follicles while nodular hypertricosis was decreased. DHT increased mean arterial pressure (radiotelemetry) (96±2 vs 108±2 mmHg; p<0.05), glomerular sclerosis (0% vs. 3.5±0.5 p<0.05) and albuminuria (5.09±2.22 vs 19.66±6.60 mg/24 h, p<0.05); plasma renin activity and aldosterone were decreased, and adrenal glands were atrophic. In summary, androgen supplements in young female rats induce physiological characteristics found in women with PCOS, and increase cardiovascular‐renal disease. These data suggest that treatment with anti‐androgens is crucial in the management of women with PCOS; and this is a new model in which to study the mechanisms responsible for cardiovascular‐renal disease in women with PCOS. This work was supported by NIH HL51971.

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