Effects of obesity on gonadotropin secretion in patients with polycystic ovarian disease

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Abstract
To investigate the interrelationships between body weight and gonadotropin secretion of polycystic ovarian disease (PCO), basal hormonal pattern and responses of gonadotropins and 17 β estradiol (E2) to 25 μg (bolus) and 175 μg (4-h infusion) of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) were studied in two age-matched groups of 18 obese (OB-PCO) and 18 normal-weight (NO-PCO) women suffering from the syndrome. Unlike other hormone levels, plasma LH and the LH/FSH ratio values were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in NO-PCO than in OB-PCO females. Moreover, LH response to both stimuli was significantly greater in NO-PCO with respect to OB-PCO. No differences were found in FSH response, whereas E2 response was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the NO-PCO group during the continuous infusion test. These results emphasize the role of body weight in the development of PCO in obese females.