Determination if Indirectly Reducing Circulating Insulin by Improving Insulin Sensitivity With Pioglitazone, Decreases Renal Clearance of DCI, Increases the Circulating Concentration of DCI, and Enhances Insulin-stimulated Release of the DCI-IPG Mediator in Obese Women With PCOS

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2) women with PCOS between 18-40 years of
age:

- oligomenorrhea (less than 8 menstrual periods annually)

- biochemical hyperandrogenemia (elevated total or free testosterone)

- normal thyroid function tests and serum prolactin; AND

- exclusion of 21a-hydroxylase deficiency by a fasting 17a-hydroxyprogesterone
less than 200 ng/dl.51,

2. acceptable health on the basis of interview, medical history, physical examination,
and laboratory tests (CBC, SMA20, urinalysis, negative pregnancy test).

3. Signed, witnessed informed consent.

4. Ability to comply with study requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diabetes mellitus by fasting glucose or OGTT, or clinically significant pulmonary,
cardiac, renal, hepatic, neurologic, psychiatric, infectious, neoplastic and
malignant disease (other than non-melanoma skin cancer).

2. Current use of oral contraceptives.

3. Documented or suspected recent (within one year) history of drug abuse or alcoholism.

4. Ingestion of any investigational drug within two months prior to study onset.