Evaluation of body weight in androgenized female rats.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the body weight of androgenized female rats or of rats in persistent estrus since these conditions mimic states of chronic anovulation in adult animals.

METHODS

Forty-four Wistar-Hannover female rats were divided at random into two groups: control group (n = 17) which received only vehicle (0.1 ml corn oil) by the subcutaneous route on the second day of life, and experimental group (n = 27) which was similarly treated with 1.25 mg testosterone propionate diluted in 0.1 ml corn oil. The animals were weighed weekly from the fourth to the 12th week of life. Data were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance and by the Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

The experimental rats (androgenized or in persistent estrus) presented a significant increase in body weight starting on the fifth week of life compared to control rats.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that androgenized rats present a significant increase in body weight, thus representing an interesting biological model for the study of diseases associated with excess weight and polycystic ovarian syndrome.