This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Data All Versions of this Article: 92/8/3285    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Salih, S. Articles by Al-Hendy, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Salih, S. Articles by Al-Hendy, A. Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH Related Collections Female Endocrinology

Lower Levels of Urinary 2-Hydroxyestrogens in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (S.S., H.F., M.N., A.A.-H.), University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; Laboratory of Proteomics and Analytical Technologies (X.X., T.D.V.), SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Frederick, Maryland 21702; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.J.D.), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Ayman Al-Hendy, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.S.C., F.A.C.O.G., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-0587. E-mail: ayalhend{at}utmb.edu.

Context: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have anovulation due to arrested follicular maturation. The substrate (2-hydroxyestrogen) and product (2-methoxyestrogen) of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) have been shown to modulate proliferation and angiogenesis of granulosa cells.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate COMT ovarian expression as well as the production of estrogen metabolites (2-hydroxyestrogen and 2-methoxyestrogen) in subjects with PCOS.

Design: Immunohistochemistry was used to assess COMT expression in ovarian tissues. Urinary levels of 10 different estrogens and estrogen metabolites were measured using enzyme-labeled immunoassays and/or liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary university referral center.

Patients and Other Participants: Ovarian tissues were obtained from six control subjects and six subjects with PCOS. Fasting first-void urinary samples were collected from 49 subjects with PCOS and 36 healthy control subjects.

Main Outcome Measure(s): COMT protein expression in ovarian tissues was measured. Urinary levels of 2-hydroxyestrogen and 2-methoxyestrogen levels in PCOS patients were also measured.

Results: Whereas immunohistochemistry showed that COMT was expressed in ovaries from control and PCOS subjects, its expression was significantly higher in ovaries from subjects with PCOS, in both the follicular structures and ovarian stroma. The urinary 2-hydroxyestrogen level was significantly lower in subjects with PCOS, compared with normal controls (P = 0.009). Additionally, urinary 2-hydroxyestrogen levels negatively correlated with serum insulin levels in subjects with PCOS (r = –0.333, P =0 .031).

Conclusions: Urinary 2-hydroxyestrogen is decreased in subjects with PCOS, which could be due in part to increased ovarian expression of COMT. Further studies are needed to ascertain the role of estrogen metabolism in PCOS before this information can be used in clinical settings.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J Wentz, S.-Q. Shi, L. Shi, S. A Salama, H. M Harirah, H. Fouad, R. E Garfield, and A. Al-Hendy Treatment with an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase activity reduces preterm birth and impedes cervical resistance to stretch in pregnant rats Reproduction, December 1, 2007; 134(6): 831 - 839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]