17β‐Oestradiol, androstenedione and inhibin levels in fluid from individual follicles of normal and polycystic ovaries, and in ovaries from androgen treated female to male transsexuals*
Authors: Pache Thierry D. , Hop Wim C. J. , de Jong Frank H. , Leerentveld Robert A. , van Geldorp Hans , Van de Kamp Thecia M. M. , Gooren Louis J. G. , Fauser Bart C. J. M. 
Published: March 2008

OBJECTIVE The aim was to monitor carefully follicular growth arrest in polycystic ovarles by assay of hormones in individual follicies.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS Fluid from follicles < 10 mm was obtained from ovarles of 16 regularly cycling women between days 1 and 12 of the follicular phase (controls, n = 120 follicles), polycystic ovarles of five women with polycystic ovary syndrome (n= 43), and polycystic ovaries from 14 long‐term testosterone treated female to male transsexuals (n= 120).

MEASUREMENTS Fluid was assayed for oestradiol, androstenedione, and immunoactive inhibin. Lutelnizing hormone, follicle‐stimulating hormone, and testosterone levels were estimated in serum.

RESULTS Median serum LH was lower in transsexuals than in controls (P <0.05), and in polycystic ovary syndrome (P <0.01). Median serum testosterone was not significantly different between polycystic ovary syndrome and transsexuals, and was elevated in both groups as compared to controls (P <0.01). Oestradlol was present in all follicles obtained from polycystic ovaries of polycystic and transsexual patients, In which no follicle >10 mm could be detected. In the three groups, between‐patient differences in mean oestradiol, androstenedione, Inhibin, and androstenedlone/oestradiol ratio were significantly larger than expected in view of the variation between follicles within individuals. Taking into account this between‐patient difference, no significant differences could be established between the three groups for all endocrine parameters. The percentage of presumed healthy follicles (androstenedlone/oestradiol ratio <4) was 12% In controls, 17% In polycystlcs, and 14% in transsexuals, and was not significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSIONS The results may Indicate that (1) abnormally high circulating androgen concentrations with or without elevated LH levels disturb the process of selection, and could therefore play a role In the pathogenesis of polycystic ovaries; (2) In polycystic ovaries from polycystic ovary syndrome and transsexual patients, aromatase activity is present In vivo in small antral follicles, and the proportion of presumed healthy follicles is not different from that encountered in normal ovaries; (3) oestradlol levels are not different between non‐dominant follicles of normal and polycystic ovaries, suggesting that only enhancement of aromatase activity by FSH may be disrupted In polycystic ovaries, (4) because androstenedione levels are not different comparing follicles of normal and polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenaemia in the syndrome seems to originate from the abnormally high number of cystic atretlc follicles generally observed in polycystic ovaries; (5) marked variation in the endocrine folllcular microenvironment within and between‐women precludes pooling fluid from several follicles. The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Monica Verwoort, Cobie Steenbergen, and their colleagues from the laboratory. They also express their gratitude to Cees Bax for his assistance in data processing. They are grateful to the NICHHD for the gift of the reagents for the INH radioimmunoassay.