High follicular fluid levels of 25-hydroxycholesterol might lead to increased number of lipid droplets in granulosa cells in polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS): a hypothesis.

Dyslipidemia is involved in the pathogenesis of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) (formerly known as PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome). 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) levels have been recently shown to be increased in the follicular fluid of women with PMOS compared to control women. 25-HC has also been previously found to facilitate the formation of lipid droplets in multiple studies. In certain models of PMOS, granulosa cells were shown to have increased number of lipid droplets. Based on these previous observations, we here hypothesize that increased levels of 25-hydroxycholesterol in the follicular fluid of women with PMOS might promote the increased formation of lipid droplets in granulosa cells in the ovaries. Further experimental data are needed to test this hypothesis.