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Rat Models of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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Sourcebook of Models for Biomedical Research

Abstract

Polycystic ovary (PCO) syndrome is a common endocrine disorder of unknown etiology. This condition is a major cause of menstrual irregularity and infertility in women with chronic anovulation. This chapter reviews the literature on methods of producing experimental PCO models in the laboratory rat, and the findings that support their resemblance to the human condition. The principal rat PCO models that have been validated include constant light exposure, hypothalamic lesions, sex steroid-induced models, and the mifepristone (RU486) model. The biological systems involved in developing chronic anovulation and PCO in these models include the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, the adrenals, and the ovary with its paracrine, autocrine, and intracrine regulators. Animal models are central to making the transition from scientific concepts to understanding the reality of a human disease. Validated animal models can be used for therapeutic screens, in preclinical trials, and for basic research in reproductive biology. However, animal models of chronic anovulation and PCO may not fully reproduce the reproductive events seen in the human syndrome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA

    Krishna B. Singh MD

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  1. Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR

    P. Michael Conn PhD (Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology) (Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology)

  2. Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR

    P. Michael Conn PhD (Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology) (Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology)

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Singh, K.B. (2008). Rat Models of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. In: Conn, P.M. (eds) Sourcebook of Models for Biomedical Research. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-285-4_43

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-285-4_43

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