Steroid synthesis in abnormal ovaries. III. Polycystic ovaries

1. 1. Three cases of the polycystic ovary syndrome are presented and the steroid production of wedge resected ovarian tissues incubated in vitro is discussed. The biosynthetic processes exhibited by these tissues are noted to be qualitatively similar to those of the normal ovarian follicle. 2. 2. This study suggests that excess production of the androgens, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and Δ⁴-androstene-3, 17-dione noted in the polycystic tissue may be due to the number of active follicles available for steroidogenesis rather than a reflection of a biosynthetic enzyme "block". 3. 3. The clinical problem of differentiating adrenal and ovarian variants of this syndrome is noted and discussed. A diagnostic plan, utilizing specific androgen excretion studies under various conditions of adrenal and ovarian stimulation and suppression, is proposed.