Relationship between the microsatellite polymorphism of CYP11 alpha gene and the pathogenesis of hyperandrogenism of polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese / 中华医学遗传学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association between the microsatellite polymorphism in the promoter region of CYP11 alpha gene and hyperandrogenism of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-six cases of PCOS and 50 normal women as controls were studied. Polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel were employed to detect the polymorphism of CYP11 alpha gene and its frequency distribution. At the same time, the relationships of CYP11 alpha alleles to serum testosterone levels in PCOS were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four different CYP11 alpha (tttta)n alleles were identified, corresponding to 4, 6, 8 and 9 repeat-units alleles. The frequency distribution profiles were 0.17, 0.31, 0.39, 0.13 and 0.22, 0.35, 0.33, 0.10 in PCOS group and control group respectively, showing no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There were no correlations between the polymorphism of CYP11 alpha gene and the serum testosterone levels of PCOS patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Micro-satellite polymorphism (tttta)n of gene CYP11 alpha exists in Chinese women and the polymorphism does not relate to the pathogenesis of hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS.</p>