# Hyperandrogenemia, Diet and Female Reproductive Health

> **NIH NIH P50** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $1,652,887

## Abstract

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
proposes to renew its P50 National Center for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI)
that addresses the effects of hyperandrogenemia and obesity on female reproductive health. Progress in years
01-05 identified metabolic, adipose tissue, ovarian and uterine lesions, as well as subfertility, following chronic
testosterone and/or a western-style diet (WSD) treatment of female macaques beginning at puberty through
young adulthood. Further studies are proposed to determine if: (1) the effects become more pronounced as
treatment continues into adulthood, and (2) the effects are, at least in part, reversed by removal of treatment.
Three research projects use the nonhuman primate model at ONPRC, and one project focuses on the specific
population of normal weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at UCLA. Project I, “Metabolic and
Adipose Responses to Hyperandrogenemia and Diet” is a collaboration between Drs. C. Roberts, C. True and
O. Varlamov. Project II, “Ovarian Structure-Function: Influence of Androgen and Diet”, includes Drs. J.
Hennebold, R. Stouffer and S, Chavez. Project III, “Effects of Androgen and Diet on Uterine-Placental
Function”, involves Drs. O. Slayden, A. Frias and L. Myatt. Project IV, “Androgen Excess Causes Adipogenic
Dysfunction in PCOS Women”, incorporates a consortium with Drs. D. Dumesic and G. Chazenbalk in the
Department of Ob-Gyn, UCLA. Projects I-III will be supported by a nonhuman primate (NHP) Core (O.
Slayden, Supervisor) operating as a closed resource. This Core will maintain four treatment groups of female
rhesus monkeys (control, testosterone or T-treated, WSD-treated and T+WSD) for two additional years,
including a fertility trial. Then procedures testing the effects of removal of T and WSD will be supported,
including another fertility trial. The Administrative Core (Drs. R. Stouffer and J. Hennebold) will direct the
NCTRI activities and promote interactions with other centers and NICHD officers. The Outreach Core (D.
Gordon and Dr. M. Zelinski) will increase public awareness and understanding of reproductive health research.
Important new information will accrue on the actions of androgen and diet-related factors, individually and in
combination, relevant to the etiology of fertility disorders, such as PCOS. Also, the reversibility data will provide
insight on the possible efficacy of novel treatments, including epigenetic changes that may limit therapies.
 The estimated prevalence of infertility in the human population is 9%, with mounting evidence that
hyperandrogenemia or obesity alone lead to reproductive dysfunction, and combine to further impair fertility.
However, the causes versus effects of androgen, particularly as related to reproductive dysfunction, are
controversial. Mechanistic studies in primates and normal-weight PCOS women will discern between the r...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10136644
- **Project number:** 5P50HD071836-09
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jon D Hennebold
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,652,887
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10136644

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10136644, Hyperandrogenemia, Diet and Female Reproductive Health (5P50HD071836-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10136644. Licensed CC0.

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