Clinical trial NCT02389088: Effect of Increased Circulating Androgens on Granulosa Cell Responses to FSH.
Official title: Effect of Increased Circulating Androgens on Granulosa Cell Responses to FSH
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Keywords: Granulosa Cell
Androgens
FSH
Ovary
Lead sponsor: University of California, San Diego
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2015-03-17
Enrollment: 9
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 40
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of increased circulating androgens on estradiol production by the granulosa cells in response to FSH stimulus.

Detailed description: Various previous studies have demonstrated that androgens enhance granulosa cell function in a variety of animal species including rodents and non-human primates. In vitro studies have shown that granulosa cells exposed to either testosterone or dihydrotestosterone exhibit increased production of estrogen, progesterone and inhibin in response to FSH. Studies done in non-human primates have also shown that androgen increases the numbers of preantral and antral follicles as well as increases FSH receptor mRNA expression in granulosa cells. This suggests that granulosa cell hyperresponsiveness to FSH in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be related to androgen excess. The investigators plan to address this possibility by performing a series of in vivo studies. In one of the investigator's prior studies androgen blockade was done by administration of flutamide and E2 responses to FSH assessed. This study has been completed and the manuscript is being prepared for publication. In the present protocol, the investigators propose to further study the role of androgens with a 2 phase study. In the first phase the investigators plan to suppress endogenous steroid hormone production by the ovaries via treatment with the GnRH analog Lupron for 4 weeks beyond which a gradual resumption of ovarian activity will occur. Granulosa cell (inhibin B) responses to FSH will be examined before and after ovarian suppression as well as during early and moderate recovery of ovarian steroidogenesis. These results will provide control data to which comparisons can be made from results of the next phase.

In the second phase, after a 2 month washout interval, the same subjects will again receive Lupron to suppress endogenous steroid production. After 4 weeks, at the beginning of ovarian activity resumption, the investigators will administer Letrozole 5mg for 14 days and again examine granulosa cell responses to FSH during recovery. Letrozole is a 3rd generation aromatase inhibitor which results in suppression of E2 production and increase in circulating serum androgen levels to about 40% greater than pre-treatment values. It is now also being used for ovulation induction. It has minimal side effects and is in general very well tolerated. By using Letrozole for 2 weeks after GnRH suppression of the ovaries, the investigators will more effectively increase the amount of circulating androgen while keeping estrogen at low levels, thereby allowing the investigators to more completely study the effects of isolated and elevated androgen levels on granulosa cell responses to FSH. By comparing results obtained in phase 1, the investigators will be able to determine if there is an androgen mediated response by granulosa cells to FSH stimulation in the absence of other ovarian steroids. Also, the addition of a control group will allow investigators to determine if the granulosa cell response is different between PCOS and normals.

It is hypothesized that there will be a significant rise in inhibin B production by the granulosa cells in PCOS women in response to FSH after treatment with Letrozole as compared to both the control group and to responses observed in the control phase of study. This would confirm that androgens are indeed responsible at least in part for the hyperresponsiveness to FSH seen in women with PCOS.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects will be determined to have PCOS based on clinical criteria such as history of irregular menses and clinical or laboratory evidence of hyperandrogenism.
* Subjects should not have been on any hormonal therapy or metformin for at least 2 months prior to study start.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Women with hemoglobin less than 11gm/dl at screening evaluation.
* Women with untreated thyroid abnormalities
* Pregnant women
* Women with BMI\>37
* Women with known sensitivity to the agent being used.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Estradiol During Phase I and Phase II
timeFrame: At time 24 hours during Week 0 and times 0 and 24 hours during Weeks 5 and 6 after FSH stimulation for both Phase I and Phase II
measure: Inhibin B During Phase I and Phase II
timeFrame: At time 24 hours during Week 0 and times 0 and 24 hours during Weeks 5 and 6 after FSH stimulation for both Phase I and Phase II
measure: LH and FSH During Phase I and Phase II
timeFrame: At time 24 hours during Week 0 and times 0 and 24 hours during Weeks 5 and 6 after FSH stimulation for both Phase I and Phase II
measure: Testosterone, Androstenedione and 17-OH Progesterone During Phase I and Phase II
timeFrame: At time 24 hours during Week 0 and times 0 and 24 hours during Weeks 5 and 6 after FSH stimulation for both Phase I and Phase II
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: University of California, San Diego
name: R. Jeffrey Chang, M.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Homer MV, Rosencrantz MA, Shayya RF, Chang RJ. The effect of estradiol on granulosa cell responses to FSH in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2017 Feb 10;15(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s12958-017-0230-0.