Detrimental effects of hyperandrogenism on uterine functions

ELIA E, VIGHI S, LOMBARDI E, MOTTA AB

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2008 vol. 8 p. 1827 - 1834

1567-5769

The aim of the present work was to study some of the adverse effects produced by hiperandrogenism on the uterine function. Daily injection of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA: 6 mg/ 100g body weight, sc) for 20 consecutive days induced polycystic ovaries in Balb/c mice. In this model, we found that DHEA produced alteratios on the uterine histology closely related to the development of tumor structures. In addition, hiperandrogenismo induced a pro-inflammatory and a pro-oxidant condition represented by increased levels of prostaglandin F2 alpha production and uterine nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and by a decrese in both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities togheter with a decrease in the levels of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione (GSH). DHEA also induced an increase in CD4+ together with a decrease in the CD8+ T lymphocytes that infiltrate the uterine tissue. We conclude that this intrincate network of regulators could be responsible for the low rate of implantation observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.