GLUT4 translocation is not impaired after acute exercise in skeletal muscle of women with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of acute exercise on insulin signaling in skeletal muscle of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and controls (CTRL).

METHODS

Fifteen women with obesity and PCOS and 12 body mass index-matched CTRL participated in this study. Subjects performed a 40-min single bout of exercise. Muscle biopsies were performed before and 60 min after exercise. Selected proteins were assessed by Western blotting.

RESULTS

CTRL, but not PCOS, showed a significant increase in PI3-k p85 and AS160 Thr 642 after a single bout of exercise (P = 0.018 and P = 0.018, respectively). Only PCOS showed an increase in Akt Thr 308 and AMPK phosphorylation after exercise (P = 0.018 and P = 0.018, respectively). Total GLUT4 expression was comparable between groups (P > 0.05). GLUT4 translocation tended to be significantly higher in both groups after exercise (PCOS: P = 0.093; CTRL: P = 0.091), with no significant difference between them (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A single bout of exercise elicited similar GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle of PCOS and CTRL, despite a slightly differential pattern of protein phosphorylation. The absence of impairment in GLUT4 translocation suggests that PCOS patients with obesity and insulin resistance may benefit from exercise training.

Obesity, but not polycystic ovary syndrome, affects circulating markers of low-grade inflammation in young women without major cardiovascular risk factors

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity on circulating markers of low-grade inflammation-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP)-in young women without major cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (diabetes, dyslipidemia and arterial hypertension).

DESIGN

Twenty-five young women with PCOS and 23 eumenorrheic women without major CV risk factors and matched for body mass index (BMI) were studied. They were subdivided according to BMI and PCOS status and comparisons were made between the PCOS and Control groups, regardless of BMI, and between the Obese and Lean groups, regardless of the presence of PCOS.

RESULTS

Levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and hsCRP were similar between the PCOS group and the Control group (2.1 vs 1.9 pg/ml, p=0.397, 3.8 vs 5.7 pg/ml, p=0.805 and 0.9 vs 0.5 ng/ml, p=0.361, respectively). Levels of TNF-α were similar between the obese group and the lean group (2.1 vs 1.9 pg/ml, p=0.444). Levels of IL-6 and hsCRP were higher in the obese group than in the lean group (8.7 vs 2.0, p <0.001 and 1.4 vs 0.2 ng/ml, p <0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Obesity, but not polycystic ovary syndrome, affects circulating markers of low-grade inflammation in young women without major CV risk factors.