• Pubmed Publications

Research Focus

My experience in PCOS-related expertise stems from over 40 years of employing investigative techniques to develop animal models of female reproductive pathophysiology to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms underlying a variety of reproductive and metabolic health disorders commonly found in adolescent girls and women. In the last 30 years, as a result of a continuing, long-standing and highly productive collaboration with Drs. Levine and Dumesic (Ob/Gyn, UCLA), my laboratory developed two nonhuman primate models for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): (1) prenatally androgenized (PA) and (2) naturally occurring, hyperandrogenic (High T) female Indian macaques. PA macaques became the vanguard for a multitude of animal and human studies aimed at determining developmental origins of PCOS, the most common cardiometabolic endocrinopathy in girls and women. PA monkeys express a multitude of PCOS-like reproductive and metabolic pathophysiological traits prepubertally and in adulthood following gestational exposure to androgen excess and transient maternal hyperglycemia. Our most recent work identifies neuroendocrine dysfunction as a key initial abnormality in early developmental origins of PCOS-like traits and shows that the aberrations manifest in female fetuses and infants. Our discovery of naturally occurring High T female macaques that exhibit a combination of PCOS-like traits has not only reinforced this pathogenic understanding, but through whole genome sequencing of individual monkeys, and employing a well-annotated rhesus monkey genome, we are piecing together a genetic-epigenetic pathogenesis for PCOS that is eminently testable. Currently, as part of R01 and R21 grants, I am collaborating with Dr. Levine, in silencing aromatase gene expression in the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus in adult female rhesus monkeys using viral vector technology, and demonstrating onset of obesity, insulin resistance, increased LH pulse frequency and circulating androgen levels. We are establishing hypothalamic estradiol as a major regulator of metabolic, reproductive neuroendocrine and sexual function in female primates, including women. 

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Neurosteroid Regulation of Adiposity, Glucose Homeostasis and Energy Expenditure in Primates

Sponsor(s): Sponsor: NIH AAH3686 PI: J Levine, PhD

We will use both pharmacological and viral vectormediated shRNA approaches to determine if adiposity, glucoregulation and energy metabolism are altered by inhibition of the CYP19A1 aromatase enzyme, or by permanent silencing of the CYP19A1 gene in the hypothalamus of female rhesus macaques. We will also analyze the synthesis of E2 in the VMN and ARC by a microdialysis approach, and determine whether VMN and ARC E2 originates from hypothalamically synthesized androgens. These studies may fundamentally change our understanding of metabolic control of adiposity, glucoregulation and energy homeostasis by sex steroids in female NHPs, and prompt exploration of new therapeutic strategies to diminish metabolic disease in women.

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Abbott published in Journal of the Endocrine Society

A new article published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society by David Abbott, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, uses a cross-sectional, cohort study to compare hormonal concentrations and body fat distribution between normal-weight women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and age and BMI-matched controls.

In “Interplay of Cortisol, Testosterone, and Abdominal Fat Mass in Normal-Weight Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome”, Abbott and co-authors show that, contrary to what appears to be the case in overweight and obese women with PCOS, lower cortisol levels in normal weight women with PCOS may protect them from accumulation of abdominal visceral fat.

Read the whole article here!

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M1 Samantha Williams in Abbott Lab receives Shapiro Summer Research grant

Congratulations to Samantha Williams, M1 student in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, who received a 2023 Shapiro Summer Research Program Award! Samantha was previously an undergraduate student in the lab of Professor David Abbott, PhD, and will be co-mentored by Abbott alongside Dan Ulrich, PhD, professor in the UW SMPH Department of Neuroscience.

Samantha’s project will be working to show that knockdown of estrogen receptor alpha expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus of prepubertal female rhesus monkeys accelerates the neuroendocrine onset of puberty and thus menarche and first ovulation. This is all in collaboration with Dr. Jon Levine, Dept of Neuroscience and Director of the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center. This would open the door for future brain-only mild estrogenic treatment (potential therapeutic already in monkey trials) to prevent precocious puberty or brain only estrogen antagonism to overcome substantial puberty delay.

Congratulations, Samantha and mentors!

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Abbott published in Fertility and Sterility

David Abbott, PhD, professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, co-authored a new publication in Fertility and Sterility!

“Randomized clinical trial: effect of low-dose flutamide on abdominal adipogenic function in normal-weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome” shares results from a human clinical trial that demonstrates that a low dose of the androgen receptor blocker, flutamide, given for 6 months to normal weight women with PCOS, diminishes their android abdominal fat accumulation and circulating lipid, while also diminishing their insulin resistance and improving their regulation of glucose.

It is the first anti-androgen intervention study involving non-overweight and obese women with PCOS and implicates elevated testosterone as a major causal factor in PCOS metabolic pathophysiology when obesity is absent or before it develops. The study was funded by an NIH P50 Center grant based at OHSU and the Oregon National Primate Research Center.

Read the whole study here!

Fertility and Sterility commissioned a commentary about this article as well. Read the Reflections piece “Polycystic ovarian syndrome: a second-take on flutamide” for more perspective.

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Abbott Lab publishes in Journal of the Endocrine Society

A new study by the Abbott research group, led by Professor David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, was just published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society!

“Aromatase Inhibition Eliminates Sexual Receptivity Without Enhancing Weight Gain in Ovariectomized Marmoset Monkeys” shows that estrogen from extra-ovarian sources, likely the brain, plays key roles in supporting female monkey sexual behavior and in regulating ovarian function, in contrast to results from female non-primates. Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor typically used in women to suppress the body’s production of estrogen, was used to diminish total body estrogen in the monkeys. This study, while showing that estradiol ameliorates diet-induced obesity in female monkeys, as found in non-primates, did not show that extra-ovarian sources of estradiol contribute additional metabolic control.

A note from Dr. Abbott:

“One last big outcome: neither loss of ovarian estrogen or total body loss of estrogen, led to bone loss. These monkeys may have solved how to maintain adult female skeletal integrity when estrogen levels decline.”

Read the whole study here!

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Abbott published in Journal of the Endocrine Society

A new article by David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Science was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society! Abbott is senior author on the article; co-authors include Marissa Kraynak, Molly Willging, Alex Kuehlmann, Amita Kapoor, Matthew Flowers, Ricki Colman, and Jon Levine.

In “Aromatase Inhibition Eliminates Sexual Receptivity Without Enhancing Weight Gain in Ovariectomized Marmoset Monkeys”, Abbott and co-authors share a brand-new finding for female primates and likely women: estradiol in the female brain (hypothalamus) plays a key additional role to ovarian estradiol in maintaining female sexual behavior and hypothalamic-pituitary regulation of ovarian function, but contributes little to weight regulation or metabolic function.

As shared in the study, the brain levels of estradiol appear independent of those in circulation (provided mostly by the ovaries). Thus sexual and ovarian dysfunction can be caused by low brain estradiol levels that cannot be detected by sampling from blood. Such issues may also be alleviated by delivery of estradiol to the brain alone without delivery to the rest of the body: preclinical trials of such a pharmaceutical delivery system for estradiol are underway in marmoset monkeys.

Read the whole study here!

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Students in Abbott research group bring 16 presentations at Undergraduate Symposium

Undergraduate student researchers in the lab of David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, brought 16 solo or team oral presentations to the 2022 UW-Madison Undergraduate Symposium April 28-29, 2022! Abbott served as mentor on 12 of the projects.

The annual Undergraduate Symposium​ showcases undergraduate creativity, achievement, research, service-learning and community based research from all areas of study at UW–Madison including the humanities, arts, biological sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and computer data and information sciences.

Congratulations, all!

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Abbott published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Huge congratulations to Dave Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences! Abbott is senior author on an invited paper in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences’ Special Issue on PCOS.

“Experimentally Induced Hyperinsulinemia Fails to Induce Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-like Traits in Female Rhesus Macaques” demonstrates that while compensatory elevations of endogenous insulin levels due to insulin resistance are associated with PCOS in both women and rhesus monkeys, experimentally controlled elevations of human exogenous insulin in circulation do not cause PCOS in control monkeys and do not worsen PCOS signs and symptoms.

It is commonly assumed that insulin resistance driven hyperinsulinemia is a cause of PCOS in women, but this monkey experiments suggests that may not be the case. Thus while there are associations, they alone do not cause PCOS.

Read the whole article here!

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Abbott published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

A new article by David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, examines historical evidence that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may have originated as an evolutionary adaptation for reproduction during food scarcity.

“Polycystic ovary syndrome as a plausible evolutionary outcome of metabolic adaptation” is a review article published in the Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology journal. This changing consideration for the origins of PCOS may help explain why it is so prevalent, why obesity exaggerates its signs and symptoms, and that better pro-active and early prepubertal clinical management, including better therapeutics, can bring about effective “cures”, as the underlying genetic and developmental origins may not be true pathology: 

“This PCOS phenotype may be an evolutionary metabolic adaptation to balance energy storage with glucose availability and fatty acid oxidation for optimal energy use during reproduction. This review integrates fundamental endocrine-metabolic changes in healthy, normal-weight PCOS women with similar PCOS-like traits present in animal models in which tissue differentiation is completed during fetal life as in humans to support the evolutionary concept that PCOS has common ancestral and developmental origins.”

Read the whole article here!

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Abbott mentees present at Biology 152 Research Symposium

Undergraduate students mentored by David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, shared their research projects at the UW-Madison Biology 152 Research Symposium on December 14, 2021!

Mihika Sathe brought a poster on excess fetal testosterone exposure in male rhesus monkeys and how it induces pancreatic morphological damage in adulthood leading to type 2 diabetes.

Nicolette Wehrli’s poster focused on how circulating estradiol levels are crucial for receptive but not proceptive sexual behavior in adult female rhesus monkeys as part of a larger study examining Neuro-estrogen and its role in female sexual behavior.

Congratulations, students and mentors!

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Grand Rounds: Badger Bytes on PCOS

On December 2, 2021, three presenters offered different updates on PCOS during the UW Ob-Gyn Grand Rounds Badger Bytes research presentation. David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, Laura Cooney, MD, of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and Leeann Bui, UW SMPH medical student, each presented updates on polycystic ovary syndrome research.

Presenters discussed a variety of PCOS-related issues: updated PCOS diagnostic criteria; immune predictors that could be used to predict pregnancy rates; potential PCOS candidate genes associated with PCOS in rhesus monkeys; and much more.

Watch the whole “Badger Bytes: PCOS” presentation. 

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Abbott earns AEPCOS Distinguished Researcher Award

Our sincere congratulations to David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences! The Androgen Excess and PCOS Society awarded Abbott the 2021 Ricardo Azziz Distinguished Researcher Award for his outstanding contributions to PCOS research.

The Ricardo Azziz Distinguished Researcher Award was created through an endowment for the purpose of providing an award to recognize distinguished leadership in the field of androgen excess and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) research. The award supports the vision of the Society as an international leader in fostering the highest quality research in the field of androgen excess and PCOS research. Awardees are selected by an impartial committee. 

Abbott joins an impressive slate of international researchers as the 2021 winner. He will formally receive the award at the AEPCOS Virtual Annual Meeting in November 2021.

Congratulations, Dr. Abbott, on this very well-deserved honor!

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Abbott has top-cited article in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

Our sincere congratulations to David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences! Abbott’s article “Adipose Insulin Resistance in Normal-Weight Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Women” was one of the top-cited articles in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2019-2020.

The article was one of the top 10 percent, as assessed by rate of citation, underscoring how valuable Abbott’s contributions are to the field. We are certainly very fortunate to have him in our department!

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Abbott’s mentoring award featured in UWSMPH Building Communities blog

In April, we learned that David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, was one of just five educators on campus to receive the UW-Madison Award for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities from the UW-Madison Office of the Provost. Now, a new post on the UW SMPH Building Communities blog offers more perspective on Abbott’s award, and the inspiring role he plays in students’ lives.

Check out the blog post, which expands on the scale of his mentorship of undergraduates, and includes some great feedback from a student who has worked with Dr. Abbott:

““I have had many mentors, but none have come close to the magnitude of impact that Dr. Abbott has had on my professional, personal, and academic development,” says Lukas Henjum, an undergraduate currently in Abbott’s lab. “In journal club, he fosters an inclusive atmosphere where I immediately felt like I belonged. These meetings have taught me not to ask ‘what,’ but instead to ask ‘why.’ These are skills that I will carry with me throughout my life and are invaluable assets to my professional development.””

Read the whole article here. Congratulations again, Dr. Abbott!

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Abbott mentee earns Hilldale Research Fellowship award

Our congratulations to UW-Madison undergraduate student Lukas Henjum, who won a 2021-2022 Hilldale Research Fellowship for the project “Estrogen Receptor Alpha Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus Mediate Female Neural Inhibition of Neuroendocrine Puberty”! Henjum is mentored by David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences.

With Abbott’s support and mentorship, Henjum will use immunohistochemistry techniques to quantify loss of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) protein expression in the hypothalamus of prepubertal female rhesus monkeys following MRI-guided infusion of gene-specific silencing RNA delivered with an attenuated adeno-associated virus. Their NIH R21-funded hypothesis is that ERalpha in this part of the brain is a key molecular switch keeping neuroendocrine activation of female puberty suppressed in primates, including humans. He’ll be contrasting loss of ERalpha with neuroendocrine measures of precocious puberty onset.

Abbott is a dedicated research mentor and was one of just five educators across the UW-Madison campus to receive the UW-Madison Award for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities from the UW-Madison Office of the Provost. Congratulations to Lukas and Dr. Abbott!

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Abbott published in Cell Metabolism

David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, co-authored an invited preview with long-time clinical collaborator Daniel Dumesic MD (UCLA Department of Ob-Gyn) in the journal Cell Metabolism.

“Passing on PCOS: new insights into its epigenetic transmission” analyzes insights from another article published in that issue of the journal: 

“Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent reproductive-metabolic disorder with poorly understood etiology. Mimouni et al. (2021) demonstrate global genomic DNA hypomethylation in women with PCOS and their daughters, and in F3 generation PCOS-like mice, together with substantial normalization of PCOS-like mice by methyl donor dietary supplementation.”

Read the whole preview here!

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Willging, trainee in Abbott Lab, presents at Diabetes Research Day

Molly Willging, a UW Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology trainee in David Abbott’s lab in Reproductive Sciences, was one of the invited speakers presenting talks at the 2nd Annual UW Madison Diabetes Research Day on March 15-16, 2021.

Willging presented part of her PhD thesis work “Hypothalamic ESR1 Gene Knockdown Elicits Intermittent Decrement In Postprandial Energy Expenditure Associated With Obesity Onset In Female Rhesus Monkeys”, showing that estrogen receptor alpha within the hypothalamus may provide a molecular gateway at which new therapeutic approaches can be aimed to provide better weight management in women. 

Congratulations!

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Abbott receives UW award for undergraduate mentorship

Please join us in congratulating David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, who is one of just five educators on campus to receive the UW-Madison Award for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities from the UW-Madison Office of the Provost!

Abbott earned the award for decades of meaningfully engaging undergraduates in research opportunities. He’s often a mentor on research projects presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium (including this year, where he is a mentor on nine undergraduate abstracts), and has supported mentees through research fellowships.

“During his time as a mentor, Abbott has published co-authored work with 17 undergraduates. He has a consistent and impressive record of mentoring undergraduates throughout his nearly 30 years on campus. Abbott meets weekly with each of his mentees, supporting them on an individual basis, in part by challenging them to continue to deepen their understanding and practice of science. He convenes a weekly Journal Club, exploring the most recent literature with his students in a welcoming atmosphere with lively discussions.”

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Dr. Abbott!

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Advocacy Update: Abbott, Cooney join virtual PCOS Advocacy Day

On March 4, 2021, David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences and Laura Cooney, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility attended the virtual PCOS Advocacy Day, hosted by PCOS Challenge.

PCOS Advocacy Day focuses on building connections with federal legislators and advocating for increased access to better informed medical care for women with polycystic ovary syndrome and broader and increased NIH funding for PCOS research beyond infertility.

The day included meetings with members of Congress and their staff. The Wisconsin delegations met with staff from the offices of Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, and Representatives Mark Pocan and Brian Steil.

Thanks to Dr. Abbott and Dr. Cooney for bringing this important issue some national attention!

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Abbott published in Fertility and Sterility

David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, co-authored an article published in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

“Accelerated subcutaneous abdominal stem cell adipogenesis predicts insulin sensitivity in normal-weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome” sought to examine “whether subcutaneous abdominal adipose stem cell differentiation into adipocytes in vitro predicts insulin sensitivity in vivo in normal-weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and controls.”

According to Abbott, the study out of UCLA shows that higher levels of testosterone in normal-weight women with PCOS reprograms their fat cells to store fat more rapidly and efficiently than is the case in normal-weight women without PCOS. Abbott and co-authors suggest that this is an ancient survival trait that has become a modern liability.

Read the whole publication here – incredible work, Dr. Abbott!

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Abbott contributes to rhesus macaque genome study in Science

David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, was part of a study published in Science that generated whole-genome sequence data for more than 800 rhesus macaques.

The study, “Sequence diversity analyses of an improved rhesus macaque genome enhance its biomedical utility”, provides a high-quality genome for one of the most widely used nonhuman primate model for studying disease:

“This new macaque reference genome and the genetic characterization of research populations will substantially advance biomedical research and studies of primate genome evolution by providing an improved framework for more complete studies of genetic variation and its phenotypic consequence.”

Find the whole study here.

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Abbott published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

In collaboration with ob-gyn groups from Norway, David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, published an article in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism!

“Sustained Maternal Hyperandrogenism During PCOS Pregnancy Reduced by Metformin in Non-obese Women Carrying a Male Fetus” looks at the ability of metformin, a well-known PCOS therapeutic, to reduce high maternal androgen levels:

“Metformin had no effect on maternal androgens in PCOS pregnancies. In subgroup analyses, a modest androgen-lowering effect was observed in nonobese women with PCOS. In PCOS women carrying a male fetus, metformin exhibited an androgen-lowering effect.”

Read the whole study here!

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Abbott authors invited reflection in Fertility Sterility

David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, published an Invited Reflection in Fertility Sterility!

“Midgestation origins of androgenic and estrogenic pathophysiology in three major women’s health disorders” is a response to an article in the same issue that sought to demonstrate associations between some physiological measurements and the incidence of female reproductive disorders like PCOS and endometriosis. According to Abbott’s commentary:

“…Peters and Lambalk’s paper provides additional insight into the potential importance of gestational hormonal environments in contributing pathogenic origins to major reproductive disorders in women. Although the technologic abilities to safely quantify circulating hormone concentrations in, or to obtain tissue from, human fetuses do not yet exist, improvements in measuring postnatal biomarkers of prenatal hormone exposure may provide clinically relevant indicators to target preventative interventions during maternal-placental-fetal development, infancy and/or childhood.”

Read the whole Reflection here. Amazing work, Dr. Abbott!

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Abbott appears on PCOS advocacy panel

On September 26, 2020, David Abbott, PhD of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, appeared on a panel as part of PCOS Awareness Symposium 2020! Abbott joined the panel “PCOS Legislative Advocacy: How You Can Make a Difference.”

Abbott provided a research expert contribution to individual patient advocacy visits with congressional representatives or senators to lobby for more resources for PCOS in both the clinical and research arenas, including NIH funding. 

The 2020 PCOS Awareness Symposium featured world-leading experts on PCOS and brought together clinicians, researchers, patients and their supporters to share their experiences, insights and the latest updates about the condition. Abbott was a natural choice for the legislative advocacy panel, as he has been an important part of legislative outreach around PCOS in the past.

Incredible work, Dr. Abbott!

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Abbott’s article on PCOS earns Endocrinology homepage feature

Congratulations to David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences! Abbott’s paper “Androgen Receptors in Multiple Organ Systems Provide Molecular Gateways to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?”, published in the journal Endocrinology, earned a front page feature on the journal’s website in August.

In the article, Abbott and co-authors offer commentary on a paper published in Endocrine Reviews. You can read the whole article here.

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Abbott published in Endocrine Reviews

David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, published the article “Animal Models to Understand the Etiology and Pathophysiology of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome” in the journal Endocrine Reviews!

In the article, Abbott and co-authors discuss the need for further research to help predict polycystic ovary syndrome, and how animal models can help: 

“More than 1 out of 10 women worldwide are diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the leading cause of female reproductive and metabolic dysfunction. Despite its high prevalence, PCOS and its accompanying morbidities are likely underdiagnosed, averaging > 2 years and 3 physicians before women are diagnosed. Although it has been intensively researched, the underlying cause(s) of PCOS have yet to be defined. In order to understand PCOS pathophysiology, its developmental origins, and how to predict and prevent PCOS onset, there is an urgent need for safe and effective markers and treatments. In this review, we detail which animal models are more suitable for contributing to our understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of PCOS. We summarize and highlight advantages and limitations of hormonal or genetic manipulation of animal models, as well as of naturally occurring PCOS-like females.”

Read the whole article here.

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Abbott co-edits Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research journal issue

David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, co-edited a recent issue of the journal Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research focused on polycystic ovary syndrome! Abbott also co-authored the leading editorial in the issue: “Polycystic ovary syndrome inspires clinical consensus and scientific innovation.”

The issue includes articles on clinical and research advances in PCOS diagnosis and treatment, as well as advances in our understanding of the genetic component of PCOS. In addition to editing and authoring the leading editorial, Abbott also co-authored the article “Endocrine–metabolic dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome: an evolutionary perspective”:

“Adipose dysfunction in PCOS from hyperandrogenemia and hyperinsulinemia likely constrains subcutaneous fat storage, promoting lipotoxicity through ectopic lipid accumulation and oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and inflammation in nonadipose tissue. Recent findings of inherently exaggerated subcutaneous abdominal stem cell development to adipocytes in women with PCOS, and PCOS-like traits in adult female monkeys with natural hyperandrogenemia, imply common ancestral origins of PCOS in both human and nonhuman primates.”

Read the whole issue, which has generated a lot of appreciative feedback. Incredible work, Dr Abbott!

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