@article{
author = "Macut, Djuro and Bozic-Antic, Ivana and Brkljačić, Jelena and Topalovic, Vladanka and Macut, Jelica Bjekic and Panidis, Dimitrios and Kotlica, Biljana Kastratovic and Papadakis, Efstathios and Matić, Gordana and Vojnović-Milutinović, Danijela",
year = "2015",
abstract = "OBJECTIVE: Most women with PCOS have increased adrenal androgen
production, enhanced peripheral metabolism of cortisol and elevation in
urinary excretion of its metabolites. Increased cortisol clearance in
PCOS is followed by a compensatory overdrive of the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. We hypothesized that
oral contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol and drospirenone
(EE-DRSP) could modulate glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression and
function and thus affect HPA axis activity in PCOS patients. DESIGN: We
analyzed 12 women with PCOS (age 24.17 +/- 4.88 years; body mass index
22.05 +/- 3.97 kg/m(2)) treated for 12 months with EE-DRSP and 20 BMI
matched controls. In all subjects testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone
sulfate (DHEAS), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol (basal
and after dexamethasone), concentrations of GR protein, phospo-GR211
protein, number of GR per cell (B-max) and its equilibrium dissociation
constant (K-D) were measured. RESULTS: Before treatment, increased
concentrations of testosterone and DHEAS (p<0.001, respectively),
unaltered basal cortisol and an increased sensitivity (p<0.05) of the
HPA axis to dexamethasone were observed in PCOS women in comparison to
controls. After treatment, testosterone (p<0.01), DHEAS (p<0.05) and
cortisol suppression after dexamethasone (p<0.01) were decreased in PCOS
women. There were no changes in GR protein concentration, GR
phosphorylation nor in the receptor functional parameters B-max and K-D
in women with PCOS before and after the therapy, and in comparison to
controls. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged treatment with EE-DRSP in PCOS women
decreased serum androgens and increased cortisol in the presence of
decreased sensitivity of the HPA axis and did not exert changes in GR
expression and function.",
journal = "Hormones-International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism",
title = "The influence of combined oral contraceptives containing drospirenone on
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity and glucocorticoid
receptor expression and function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome",
number = "1",
volume = "14",
pages = "109-117",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_2069"
}