Abstract
Ovarian hormones are known to affect endocrine pancreas function. However, data concerning
the effects of anovulatory menstrual cycles in regularly menstruating women on endocrine
pancreas and blood metabolites are lacking. We examined plasma insulin, glucagon,
glucose, lactate, urea and glycerol concentrations in reproductive-age, regularly
menstruating females classified as ovulating or non-ovulating on the basis of basal
body temperature measurements and plasma 17β-estradiol and progesterone determinations.
All measurements were performed twice - in the follicular and again in the luteal
phases of the menstrual cycle. There were no differences in plasma lactate and glycerol
concentrations between the two groups of subjects. Plasma insulin concentrations tended
to be lower in non-ovulating than in ovulating women. In addition, plasma glucagon
did not differ in the follicular (33.2 pmol/l) or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle
in females with disturbed ovarian hormone secretion (34.1 pmol/l). In contrast, plasma
glucagon concentrations in the luteal phase (32.8 pmol/l) were significantly higher
than in the follicular phase (24.9 pmol/l) of the menstrual cycle in ovulating women.
Plasma glucose concentrations in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in non-ovulating
women (4.1 mmol/l) were slightly but significantly lower than in their ovulating counterparts
(5.3 mmol/l). Furthermore, no correlations were noted between plasma glucose and insulin-to-glucagon
molar ratio in non-ovulating subjects. Plasma urea concentrations in non-ovulating
women were markedly lower than in ovulating women in both follicular and luteal phases
of the menstrual cycle (4.1 and 3.9 mmol/l vs. 5.3 and 5.4 mmol/l in non-ovulating and ovulating women, respectively). In ovulating
women, plasma urea levels in both cycle phases were significantly correlated with
plasma glucagon concentrations, but no such correlation was found in non-ovulating
women. In conclusion, anovulatory menstrual cycles in premenopausal females slightly
altered pancreatic hormone plasma levels but markedly impaired their action on plasma
glucose and urea concentrations.
Key words
Premenopausal females - Anovulation - Glucose homeostasis
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G. Lutosławska
Department of Biochemistry · Academy of Physical Education
01-968 Warsaw 45 · Box 55 · Poland
Fax: +1033 (22) 865-10-80
Email: grazyna.lutoslawska@awf.edu.pl
