State of Pituitary-Ovarian Axis of the Neuroendocrine Regulation System in Women of Reproductive Age with Ovarian Hyperandrogenism

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the state of the pituitary-ovarian axis of the neuroendocrine regulation system in women of reproductive age with ovarian hyperandrogenism (OH) of the main ethnic groups of the Baikal region. Methods and Results: Groups of women with OH of Buryat (n=35) and Caucasian (n=97) ethnic groups were formed. Data from somatically healthy women of Buryat (n=42) and Caucasian (n=87) ethnic groups were used for comparison. A comparative characterization of clinical data and indicators of the pituitary-ovarian link of the neuroendocrine regulation system was carried out. ELISA methods were used to determine thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OH-Pg), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Testosterone levels were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Buryat ethnic group women with OH had higher values of body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference, and % fat compared to the corresponding control group. In the group of Caucasian women with OH, higher values of height, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were registered compared to the control group. In Buryat women with OH, higher TSH, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), free androgen index (FAI), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) values were found compared to controls. In the group of Caucasian women with OH, higher values of PRL, AMH, TSH, FAI, 17-OH-Pg, and DHEA-S were registered compared to the control. In Buryat women with OH, LH values were higher only in phase 2 compared to controls. In Caucasian women with OH, LH values increased both in phase 1 and phase 2 compared to controls. Conclusion. A comprehensive analysis of the state of the neuroendocrine regulation system in women of reproductive age with OH showed certain changes in the level of a number of hormones relative to control groups, most pronounced in the group of Caucasian women. At the same time, there were no differences in the studied indicators between ethnic groups with OH. The data obtained indicate the necessity of assessing and controlling the state of the neuroendocrine regulation system in female patients with OH for PCOS prevention and treatment. The ethnic component may have a certain contribution to the realization of further risks of the disease.