Association between Follicular Fluid Leptin and Serum Insulin Levels in Nonoverweight Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Aims. We evaluated the links between leptin and visfatin levels and fertilization rates in nonoverweight (NOW) women with PCOS (NOW-PCOS) from Apulia undergoing in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF). Materials and Methodology. We recruited 16 NOW women with PCOS (NOW-PCOS) and 10 normally ovulating NOW women (control-NOW). All women underwent IVF. Androgens, 17-β-estradiol (17β-E2), and insulin levels were measured in plasma and/or serum and leptin and visfatin levels were assayed in both serum and follicular fluid (FF-leptin, FF-visfatin). Results. In NOW-PCOS, both serum and FF-leptin were significantly lower than in control-NOW. In NOW-PCOS, significant correlations were found between BMI and serum leptin and insulinemia and FF-leptin. By contrast, in control-NOW, FF-leptin levels were not correlated with insulinemia. Serum visfatin levels were not significantly different in NOW-PCOS and control-NOW, but FF-visfatin levels were 1.6-fold higher, although not significantly, in NOW-PCOS than in control-NOW. Conclusions. Both serum leptin levels and FF-leptin are BMI- and insulin-related in Southern Italian NOW-PCOS from Apulia. In line with other reports showing that FF-leptin levels are predictive of fertilization rates, lower than normal FF-leptin levels in NOW-PCOS may explain their lower fertilization rate and this may be related to the level of insulin and/or insulin resistance.

Molecular role of peptides/proteins in subfertility of polycystic ovarian syndrome

“…Celik et al showed the presence of leptin resistance at the bloodbrain barrier in preeclamptic pregnant women (65). Gararuti et al reported a significant decline in serum and follicular fluid leptin levels in PCOS (66). Their results were compatible with the study conducted by De Placido et al (67).…”

“…Exogenous visfatin induces follicle response during ovarian stimulation (142). However, Garruti et al showed normal levels of serum visfatin in PCOS (66). As a conclusion, comprehensive studies are needed to elucidate the effects of these four peptides on subfertility due to PCOS.…”

High-visfatin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: evidence from a meta-analysis

“…Over the past decade, some studies have investigated the visfatin levels in women with PCOS; in addition, the relationships between visfatin and PCOS characteristics, such as adiposity, IR and androgen levels, have also been the subject of research [8,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. Yet, these studies have shown conflicting results.…”

Follicular fluid levels of anti-Müllerian hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1 and leptin in women with fertility disorders

“…The literature concerning leptin levels are controversial. Certain authors reported lower leptin levels in follicular fluid in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Garruti et al 2014). Others reported increased levels in cases of endometriosis or unexplained reasons for infertility.…”