Follicular And Serum Resistin Levels In Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome During IVF-ET Cycles

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea, hyperandrogenism, and multiple small subcapsular cystic follicles in the ovary on ultrasonography. It affects 5-10% of women of reproductive age and is a very common cause of anovulatory infertility. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that, in women with PCOS, the insulin sensitivity of glucose metabolism is subnormal and hyperinsulinaemia is present. PCOS is frequently associated with insulin resistance accompanied by compensatory hyperinsulinaemia and obesity. Insulin resistance is thought to play an important role in the aetiology of PCOS. The hormone resistin, a cysteine-rich protein, is secreted by adipocytes, may be an important linker between increased fat mass and insulin resistance. The association between PCOS and resistin has been discussed in several reports, which stated that serum resistin levels are not elevated in PCOS women with insulin resistance, and resistin was therefore not regarded as a major determining factor of PCOS-associated insulin resistance. However, resistin mRNA levels in adipocytes are increased 2-fold in PCOS patients, suggesting that the resistin gene may be a local determining factor in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Follicular growth and maturation is a complex process regulated by autocrine and paracrine factors and provides the environment in which oocyte maturation occurs. Levels of cytokines such...