| Abstract | dc.description.abstract | Context: An important proportion of male members of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) families
exhibit insulin resistance and related metabolic defects. However, the reproductive phenotypes in
first-degree male relatives of PCOS women have been described less often.
Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the pituitary-testicular function in sons of
women with PCOS during different stages of life: early infancy, childhood, and adulthood.
Design: Eighty sons of women with PCOS (PCOSS) and 56 sons of control women without hyperandrogenism
(CS), matched for age, were studied. In all subjects, the pituitary-gonadal axis was
evaluated by a GnRH agonist test (leuprolide acetate, 10 g/kg sc). Serum anti-Mu¨ llerian hormone
(AMH) and inhibin B were used as Sertoli cell markers. Serum concentrations of gonadotropins,
steroid hormones, and SHBG were also determined. A semen analysis was performed.
Results: Basal concentrations of gonadotropins, sex steroids, and inhibin B were comparable between
PCOSs and CS during early infancy, childhood, and adulthood. Similar results in stimulated
gonadotropinandsex steroid concentrationswereobserved. However,AMHserum concentrations
were higher in PCOSs compared with CS during early infancy [925.0 (457.3–1401.7) vs. 685.6 (417.9–
1313.2) pmol/liter, P 0.039] and childhood [616.3 (304.6–1136.9) vs. 416.5 (206.7– 801.2) pmol/
liter, P 0.007). Sperm-count analysis was similar between both groups.
Conclusions: AMH concentrations are increased in prepubertal sons of women with PCOS, suggesting
that these boys may show an increased Sertoli cell number or function during infancy and
childhood. However, this does not seem to have a major deleterious effect on sperm production. | en_US |
