Collagen and glycosaminoglycans in the human ovarian capsule with polycystic ovarian disease.

Connective tissue of human ovarian capsule with polycystic ovarian disease (PCO) is analyzed. The connective tissue components of the capsule were found to mainly consist of type I collagen and acid glycosaminoglycans, such as dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfate. Although their concentration and constituent ratio in the PCO capsule are found to be similar to those in the normal, their total amounts in whole capsule with PCO are higher than in normal ones, because of the enlarged ovary and the thickened capsule. Furthermore, collagen solubility for pepsin in the PCO capsule is larger than that in the normal one. The results suggest that the activation of connective tissue metabolism in the ovarian capsule is one of the factors of anovulation in PCO.