Epigenetic mechanisms of valproate-induced polycystic ovary syndrome in epilepsy patients

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462568
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Obstetrics and gynecology
• Research Institution: Sapporo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Endo Toshiaki 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 研究員 (90213595)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 多嚢胞性卵巣症候群 / PCOS / androgen / insulin resistance / epigenetics / valproic acid / HDAC inhibitor

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Valproic acid(VPA) is well known to be a HDAC inhibitor. When women have taken VPA for epilepsy from their childhood, their ovarian morphology revealed to be polycystic ovary. When VPA was given for pregnant rats, their daughters' ovary revealed to be PCO. Hypermethylation of DNA of the daughter's rats is reported when androgen is given them during pregnancy. In this study, the daughter's ovary revealed to be polycystic ovary. Zucker fa/fa rats with insulin resistance is reported to have hypermethylation of DNA and have polycystic ovary. When we gave pioglitazone(a PPARγactivator) for Zucker fa/fa rats , we succeeded in reduction of small follicles in their ovary. In these results, we realized the existence of very curious relationship between PCOS and epigenome.

Free Research Field

産婦人科