Locus coeruleus lesions and PCOS: role of the central and peripheral sympathetic nervous system in the ovarian function of rat

"Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder associated with ovulatory dysfunction". "Autonomic and central nervous systems play important roles in the regulation of ovarian physiology". The noradrenergic nucleus locus coeruleus [LC] plays a central role in the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system and synaptically connected to the preganglionic cell bodies of the ovarian sympathetic pathway and its activation is essential to trigger spontaneous or induced LH surges. This study evaluates sympathetic outflow in central and peripheral pathways in PCO rats. Our objectives in this study were [1] to estimate LC activity in rats with estradiol valerate [EV]-induced PCO; [2] to antagonized alpha2a adrenoceptor in systemic conditions with yohimbine. Forty two rats were divided into two groups: 1] LC and yohimbine and 2] control. Every group subdivided in two groups: eighteen rats were treated with estradiol valerate for induction of follicular cysts and the remainders were sesame oil groups. Estradiol concentration was significantly augmented by the LC lesion in PCO rats [p<0.001], while LC lesion could not alter serum concentrations of LH and FSH, like yohimbine. The morphological observations of ovaries of LC lesion rats showed follicles with hyperthecosis, but yohimbine reduced the number of cysts, increased corpus lutea and developed follicles. Rats with EV-induced PCO increased sympathetic activity. LC lesion and yohimbine decreased the number of cysts and yohimbine increased corpus lutea and developed follicles in PCO rats

Psychological distress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome from Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran

Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is a complex, multifaceted, het-erogeneous disorder, affecting 4%?18% of reproductive-aged women and it is asso-ciated with reproductive, metabolic and psychological dysfunctions. PCOS affects quality of life and can worsen anxiety and depression either due to the features of PCOS or due to the diagnosis of a chronic disease. In this descriptive-analytical study, 81 patients with PCOS were recruited from Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center. A questionnaire with items related to pieces of information about stress was used for data collection. Stress symptoms were assessed using the Understanding Yourself questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Ver. 13.0 [SPSS Inc., Chicago, ILL, USA]. The data are presented as mean +/- SD or as frequency with percentages. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The descriptive results showed that 8 [9.9%] participants did not have any signs of stress, 32 [39.5%] had neurotic stress, 29 [35.8%] had high and 12 [14.8%] had extremely high levels of stress. The odds of high levels of anxiety in women with hirsutism was 3.1 [95% CI, 1.00?9.59]. The odds of high levels of obsession in overweight patients was 3.2 [95% CI, 1.12?9.234]. The odds of high levels of worries in patients with touchy personality was 3.4 [95% CI, 1.10?11.19] obsession score. The present study showed that clinical signs of PCOS were most close-ly associated with psychological distress which has important implications in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders

Psychological signs in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

PCOS is a multifaceted disorder with multiple potential risk factors [e.g. infertility, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome]. PCOS affects quality of life and can worsen anxiety and depression either due to the features of PCOS or due to the diagnosis of a chronic disease. This study aimed to determine the risk factors of PCOS in a group of patients. In this descriptive-analytic study, 81 patients with PCOS were studied in Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center, Tehran, Iran. A questionnaire with items related to stress information was used for data collection. Stress symptoms were assessed using the Understanding Yourself standard questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 13.0 [SPSS Inc., Chicago, ILL, USA]. Data are presented as mean +/- SD or as frequency with percentages. P-value less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. The evaluation of psychological signs in 81 PCO patients and descriptive results showed that 8 [9.9%] had not any stress problem, 32 [39.5%] had neurotic stress, 29 [35.8%] had high level and 12 [14.8%] had extremely high level of stress. The age range of 26 years and more [P=0.023], touchy personality [P = 0.028] and acne [P = 0.015] related with high stress level. The odds of high level of anxiety in women with hirsutism was 3.1 [95%CI 1.00 to 9.59]. The odds of high level of obsession in overweight patients was 3.2 [95%CI 1.12 to 9.234]. The odds of high level of worrisome in patients with touchy personality was 3.4 [95%CI 1.10 to 11.19]. Obsession score had a correlation with illness duration [r = -0.268, P = 0.038]. These data showed that clinical signs of PCOS are the most closely associated with psychological distress and this has important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders