Edinburgh Napier University

  Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disorder encompassing
reproductive and metabolic dysfunction. Ovarian hyperandrogenism is an
endocrine hallmark of human PCOS. In animal models, PCOS-like
abnormalities can be recreated by in utero over-exposure to androgenic
steroid hormones.
This thesis investigated pancreatic and adrenal development and
function in a unique model of PCOS. Fetal sheep were directly exposed (day
62 and day 82 of gestation) to steroidal excesses - androgen excess
(testosterone propionate - TP), estrogen excess (diethylstilbestrol - DES) or
glucocorticoid excess (dexamethasone - DEX).
At d90 gestation there was elevated expression of genes involved in β-
cell development and function: PDX-1 (P