Normal menstrual cycle steroid hormones variation does not affect the blood levels of total adiponectin and its multimer forms

Konstantia Chatzidimitriou; Sofia G Gougoura; Alexandra Bargiota; George N Koukoulis

doi:10.1016/j.jcte.2015.03.001

Normal menstrual cycle steroid hormones variation does not affect the blood levels of total adiponectin and its multimer forms

J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2015 Mar 18;2(2):61-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jcte.2015.03.001. eCollection 2015 Jun.

Authors

Konstantia Chatzidimitriou¹, Sofia G Gougoura¹, Alexandra Bargiota¹, George N Koukoulis¹

Affiliation

¹ Research Laboratory, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Larissa 41110, Greece.

Abstract

Objective: Plasma total adiponectin reveals a sexual dimorphism indicating that gonadal steroids may be involved in its secretion and/or metabolism. However, results from previous reports are conflicting and data regarding the influence of ovarian steroids on adiponectin's multimer forms are scarce. The objective of the study was to assess if total adiponectin and its isoforms are affected by the changes of estradiol and progesterone during the normal menstrual cycle and the association of total adiponectin and its isoforms with the gonadal steroid levels.

Materials/methods: Quantitative determination of plasma adiponectin and its multimers was conducted in the three phases of an ovulatory cycle in 13 premenopausal women, in the follicular phase of 10 more premenopausal women, in 20 postmenopausal women and in 21 men. Moreover, serum levels of FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, glucose, and insulin were measured.

Results: The circulating levels of total adiponectin and its multimers were not affected by the normal variation of estradiol and progesterone across the ovulatory menstrual cycle. In the whole number of participants, the total adiponectin and high molecular weight adiponectin levels were significantly different between genders and associated positively with age and sex hormone binding globulin levels, and negatively with testosterone and progesterone levels and the waist/hip ratio. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for age, gender, and sex hormone binding globulin and progesterone levels, significant predictors of total adiponectin levels were the waist/hip ratio and testosterone levels, and of high molecular weight adiponectin the testosterone levels.

Conclusions: Normal menstrual cycle ovarian steroids are not involved directly in the regulation of secretion and/or metabolism of total adiponectin and its multimers. Testosterone seems to be responsible for the adiponectin's sexual dimorphism.

Keywords: Adiponectin multimers; Androgens; BMI, body mass index; Bio-T, bioavailable testosterone; CRP, C reactive protein; E2, estradiol; Estradiol; FAI, free androgen index; FSH, follicle stimulating hormone; FT, free testosterone; FT4, free thyroxine; Gonadal steroids; HMW, high molecular weight; HOMA-R, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; LH, luteinizing hormone; LMW, low molecular weight; MBP, mean blood pressure; MMW, mean molecular weight; Menstrual cycle; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome; SHBG, sex hormone binding globulin; TA, total adiponectin; TSH, Thyroid stimulating hormone; TT, total testosterone; Testosterone; WC, waist circumference.