Abstract
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by reproductive and metabolic disturbances and associated with higher prevalence of anxiety and depression. Circulating adiponectin, an insulin-sensitizing adipokine, is reduced in women with PCOS, and low adiponectin has been linked to impaired mental health, particularly in females. We investigated whether low serum adiponectin is associated with impaired mental health in women with PCOS and whether adiponectin deficiency exacerbates anxiety-like behaviour in a PCOS-like mouse model. Serum adiponectin was measured in women with (n = 179) and without PCOS (n = 228), stratified by body mass index (BMI). Health-related quality of life was assessed using the short form 36 (SF-36), generating physical and mental component scores. In parallel, the prenatal androgenization (PNA) PCOS-like mouse model was combined with adiponectin-deficient mice (APNhet) to assess the impact of reduced adiponectin on anxiety-like behaviour with and without prenatal androgen exposure. Women with PCOS had lower total and high molecular weight adiponectin levels compared with controls. Adiponectin positively correlated with mental component scores in women with BMI Trial registration
Clinical trial.gov: NCT01319162, NCT00484705, NCT01457209, and NCT00921492.