Author(s)

Evagelia Dafa¹, Maria Kontou¹, Tzegiaver B. Mantratzi², Emmanouel N. Kontomanolis², Nikoletta G. Koutlaki¹, Vasilios A. Liberis¹, Theodore S. Lialiaris^1*

¹Laboratory of Genetics, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.

The aim of the present study was to determine the level of underlying DNA damage in females with PCOS. Twenty-two women with PCOS and twenty-two healthy controls were included in this study. Patients were further categorized into three phenotypic subgroups: Subgroup A, oligo/anovulation (ANOV) and polycystic ovaries (PCO); Subgroup B, hyperandrogenism (HA) as a main characteristic (HA + ANOV or HA + PCO); Subgroup C, all three conditions present (HA + ANOV + PCO). The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) was used as an index of cytogenetic damage. Proliferation rate index (PRI), mitotic index (MI), average generation time (AGT) and population doubling time (PDT) were also evaluated. A significant (p < 0.01) increase in SCE levels along with a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in PRIs and MIs were observed in women with PCOS compared with healthy subjects. Additionally, subgroup C demonstrated statistically significant differences compared with others, while subgroup A had similar results with healthy females. Our results suggest that females with PCOS show increased chromosomal instability in peripheral lymphocytes and a consequent inability of the cells to promote their own mitotic cycle. A positive correlation between DNA damage and PCOS phenotypes is also reported.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Proliferative Rate Index, Mitotic Index, Genotoxicity, Cytostaticity

Dafa, E. , Kontou, M. , Mantratzi, T. , Kontomanolis, E. , Koutlaki, N. , Liberis, V. and Lialiaris, T. (2015) Enhancement of Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCEs) in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Vitro. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 5, 378-384. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2015.57055.