Investigate of serum and saliva ghrelin and obestatin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that is commonly charaterized with hirsutism, obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia and it was seen in around 5-10% of women at reproductive age.Recently three hormes were discovered that encoded by the same gene, as named obestatin, desacylated ghrelin and acylated ghrelin. Those there peptides showed on the effect of energy balance, obesity, and possibly gonadal functions.The present study was therefore designed to find out (i) whether serum and saliva acylated ghrelin, descaylated ghrelin and obestatin levels changes in women with PCOS compared with healthy controls; and (ii) whether there is a relationship among these peptides and the basal levels of gonadotrophins, androgens, insulin, insulin resistance as well as lipid profiles.15 women with PCOS and 15 healty women were enrolled for this study. Saliva and serum acylated, descaylated ghrelin, obestatin and serum total estradiol, gonadotrophins, androgens, 17-OH-progesterone, sex hormone binding globulin and insulin were measured.Serum acylated ghrelin levels in women with PCOS were significantly higher than those of control groups (p<0.05).In addition Ferriman-Gallwey score, serum luteinizing hormone, total testestorone and androstenodione levels in women with PCOS were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05).However, there were any significant alteration for other paramaters when compared with control subjects.In conclusion, serum acylated ghrelin levels in women with PCOS were significantly higher than those of control groups, suggest that this increased acylated ghrelin might contribute to pathogenesis of PCOS.