Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Sep;81(3):602-612.
doi: 10.1007/s12020-023-03404-9. Epub 2023 May 29.

Plasma-free metanephrines, nerve growth factor, and renalase significance in patients with PCOS

Ralitsa Robeva  1 , Atanaska Elenkova  2 , Georgi Kirilov  2 , Sabina Zacharieva  2
Affiliations

Plasma-free metanephrines, nerve growth factor, and renalase significance in patients with PCOS

Ralitsa Robeva et al. Endocrine. 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common heterogeneous condition with probably multifactorial genesis. Animal studies have proven the essential role of the sympathetic nervous system in the syndrome development, while human studies are still contradictory. The present study aims to investigate the possible influence of plasma-free metanephrine (MN), and normetanephrine (NMN), nerve growth factor (NGF), and renalase (RNL) on the hormonal and metabolic parameters in women with PCOS and healthy controls.

Methods: Fifty patients with PCOS and 30 healthy women participated in the study. The plasma-free MN and NMN, NGF, RNL, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), gonadotropin, androgen levels, and metabolic parameters were investigated.

Results: Plasma-free NMN and NGF concentrations were increased in PCOS individuals, while RNL levels were decreased compared to healthy volunteers. Increased plasma-free NMN (OR = 1.0213 [95%CI 1.0064-1.0364], p = 0.005) and NGF (OR = 1.0078 [95%CI 1.0001-1.0155], p = 0.046) but not MN or RNL levels were associated with a higher risk of PCOS after adjustment for age. Plasma-free NMN levels were positively associated with the LH (r = +0.253; p = 0.039). androstenedione (r = +0.265; p = 0.029), 17-OH progesterone (r = +0.285; p = 0.024), NGF (r = +0.320; p = 0.008), and AMH (r = +0.417; p < 0.001) concentrations of the investigated women. RNL levels were inversely related to the BMI (r = -0.245; p = 0.029), HOMA-IR (r = -0.250; p = 0.030), free testosterone (r = -0.303; p = 0.006) levels. systolic (r = -0.294; p = 0.008) and diastolic (r = -0.342; p = 0.002) blood pressure.

Conclusions: Increased sympathetic noradrenergic activity and NGF synthesis might be related to the increased AMH and delta-4 androgen levels in a subgroup of PCOS patients. RNL levels might influence the metabolic status of PCOS patients. Further studies are needed to explore the significance of adrenal medullar and autonomic dysfunction for developing different PCOS phenotypes and their subsequent cardiovascular complications.

Keywords: Nerve growth factor (NGF); Normetanephrine; Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS); Renalase; Sympathetic noradrenergic activity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Levels of plasma-free metanephrine (A), plasma-free normetanephrine (B), renalase (C), and nerve growth factor (D) in healthy women and patients with PCOS. *-p < 0.05. Data presented as a median ± interquartile range
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Levels of plasma-free metanephrine (A), plasma-free normetanephrine (B), renalase (C), and nerve growth factor (D) in women with regular menstruation compared to women with chronic anovulation. *-p < 0.05. Data presented as a median ± interquartile range
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Levels of plasma-free metanephrine (A), plasma-free normetanephrine (B), renalase (C), and nerve growth factor (D) in women with normal ovaries compared to women with polycystic ovaries. *-p < 0.05. Data presented as a median ± interquartile range
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Azziz R, Dumesic DA, Goodarzi MO. Polycystic ovary syndrome: an ancient disorder? Fertil. Steril. 2011;95:1544–1548. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.09.032. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Stein I, Leventhal M. Amenorrhea associated with bilateral polycystic ovaries. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1935;29:181–191. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9378(15)30642-6. - DOI
    1. Escobar-Morreale HF. Polycystic ovary syndrome: definition, aetiology, diagnosis and treatment. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 2018;14:270–284. doi: 10.1038/nrendo.2018.24. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Teede HJ, Misso ML, Costello MF, Dokras A, Laven J, Moran L, Piltonen T, Norman RJ. Recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum. Reprod. 2018;33:1602–1618. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dey256. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil. Steril. 2004;81:19–25. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.10.004. - DOI - PubMed