Relation between hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and insulin resistance in woman with polycystic ovary syndrome

Forty women with polycystic ovary syndrome( PCOS) were enrolled. Basal plasma and urine cortisol, pituitary hormones, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, and plasma cortisol in 0. 25 mg dexamethasone inhibition test were determined. In over-weight or obese PCOS patients, cortisol levels before and after inhibition test were increased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01 ). The results suggest that the feed-back regulation of glucocorticoids to hypothalamas-pituitary is impaired and the change in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is associated with insulin resistance. Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome;  Insulin resistance;  Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis;  Cortisol