Circulating follistatin concentrations are higher and activin concentrations are lower in polycystic ovarian syndrome

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) 2001-04, Vol.16 (4), p.668-672
• Main Authors: Norman, Robert J., Milner, Clyde R., Groome, Nigel P., Robertson, David M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: activin; Activins; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Fasting; Female; Female genital diseases; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Follistatin; Glycoproteins - blood; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; inhibin; Inhibin-beta Subunits; Inhibins - blood; Insulin - blood; Medical sciences; PCOS; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - blood; Prostatic Secretory Proteins; Reference Values; Testosterone - blood; Tumors
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/16.4.668

Familial polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been proposed to be linked to a site near the follistatin gene. We studied the concentrations of circulating follistatin, activin A and inhibin B in well-characterized subjects with PCOS (n = 108) and controls without PCOS (n = 20). Mean (± SEM) concentrations of follistatin were higher (P < 0.05) in PCOS (0.27 ± 0.03 ng/ml) than controls (0.15 ± 0.02 ng/ml) and activin A were lower (P < 0.05) in PCOS (0.20 ± 0.01ng/ml) than controls (0.24 ± 0.02 ng/ml). Inhibin B concentrations were not different between the two groups: PCOS (0.06 ± 0.01ng/ml), and controls (0.06 ± 0.01ng/ml). It is proposed that higher concentrations of follistatin with lower concentrations of activin A may relate to follicular development not proceeding beyond 8–10 mm and may be partly responsible for the lack of pre-ovular follicle development in PCOS.