Androgen
We will pick up right where we left off a couple of days ago. The presence of high insulin in the bloodstream is one issue, but it also influences other hormones, such as androgens. Strangely, elevated androgen levels can promote insulin resistance by interfering with the islets of Langerhans, where insulin is produced. Hyperinsulinemia can be caused by changes in pancreatic metabolism. It's one of the concerns women with PCOS have. Scientists are working hard to figure out what exactly causes PCOS. Hey fellas, androgen affects us too when levels are whacky. In the same way that insulin has a place in the universe, androgen has its place too, but when it's overexpressed, it becomes a menace in the body. It all boils down to dosage amount, or in other words, balance is key. For a better understanding of androgen, let's look at its bio, resume, and rap sheet.
Biography:
Androgen is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands using cholesterol. A fat-soluble hormone, it belongs to a class of steroid hormones, and it's crucial for women's reproductive and endocrine health. The following compounds are known as androgens:
Androstenedione (A4)
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Testosterone (T)
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)
In summary, A4, DHEA, and DHEAS are the substrates for testosterone and dihydrotestosterone production. The two active forms of androgen are responsible for biological effects; they cause chemical reactions. The level of DHT in the body is three times greater than that of testosterone under normal conditions. Approximately 66% of testosterone is paired with sex hormone-binding globulin (protein) and 33% with albumin (protein). A similar pattern applies to DHT. The remaining 1% is free to flow around the body. Free testosterone is biologically active, whereas testosterone combined with those proteins is inactive. It's necessary for an androgen to fit a specific androgen receptor for its actions to be displayed. In the liver, androgen is converted into a safe substance that is eliminated through urine.
In the ovary, theca cells are responsible for the creation of androgens. These cells look like an amulet (Mediterranean evil eyes). Through a series of chemical reactions, these cells create and release a high level of androgens. In the adrenal gland, the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex is assigned the task of producing the starting ingredient for androgen manufacture. Pituitary corticotrophin (ACTH) controls all this stuff. Think of the adrenal glands as an apple. The outer and inner layers produce different hormones.
17-hydroxyprogesterone and glucocorticoids are key steroidal building blocks for the production of androgen in response to high levels of luteinizing hormone. We’ll briefly touch on LH for today’s purpose. There's a link between LH and sexual development. For example, LH patrols women’s menstrual cycle and releases eggs in the ovary. Androgen production is stimulated by excess levels of this hormone.
Resume:
Under normal levels, androgen is involved in several key functions in women’s health.
The female reproductive endocrine system is balanced by androgen, which is the parent hormone to estrogen and testosterone.
Contributes to the growth of muscle
Enhances bone growth
Calcium is deposited more readily
It is responsible for the pubic and axillary hair that forms during puberty
Assists a woman in maintaining her sexual desire
Rap Sheet:
If androgen levels exceed normal levels and remain persistent, it poses a threat to human health, in particular women battling PCOS. Imagine androgens as timid children who want to be cool like excess insulin and LH. Androgens copy the cool kids, but in their own unique way. The cheeky part is the reverse can happen too; it just depends on which scenario comes first. As a form of entertainment, excess amounts of androgen engage in activities that are detrimental to a person's health. Some of the offenses a surplus of androgen commits in women battling PCOS are the following:
Helps develop follicular dysplasia which can impair ovulation, resulting in a menstrual disorder
Low libido and sexual fulfillment are caused by hormone imbalances
Fertility problems- reduces the sensitivity of follicle-stimulating hormone receptors resulting in a decrease in estrogen and progesterone production
Dysfunctional mitochondria: caused by abnormal glycolysis (from glucose) to make ATP
Oocytes – suppresses the production of heat shock protein that protects oocytes from cell death and leads to abnormal oocytes development
Various signal pathways lead to apoptosis, which contributes to cell death
A critical factor in abdominal obesity in women who are obese
The high levels of testosterone from androgen circulating in the bloodstream are assist in the development of hypertension
Leads to kidney disease: e.g. tubular injury and urinary albumin leakage
The correlation between insulin activity and androgen is intimate – high insulin levels and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) are parallel to androgen, while insulin sensitivity decreases, contributing to diabetes
The importance of living a healthy lifestyle and eating well cannot be overstated. Maintaining a balanced hormone level requires regular physical activity. Even though this compound can be made in many ways, it's more critical to know what lifestyle and nutrition plan works most effectively for a person to curb it. You can learn a lot about your metabolism and how to manage it by knowing your genetics. By now the integrative network that exists in human metabolism should start to become more apparent with each script that's released. Stop looking at conditions in an iso-situation, instead consider them holistically. Androgen can be a team player or a crook depending on the amount circulating in someone's bloodstream.
Reference
Kanbour, S.A. et Dob A.S. (2022). Hyperandrogenism in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Controversies. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1089/andro.2021.0020.
Ye, W. et al. (2021). The role of androgen and its related signals in PCOS. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.16205.
