The use of dehydroepiandrosterone-treated rats is not a good animal model for the study of metabolic abnormalities in polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract Objective Hyperandrogenism is the hallmark of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The use of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-treated rats is thought to be a suitable animal model to study PCOS. In the present study, we assessed the severity of reproductive and metabolic abnormalities in DHEA-treated rats. Material and methods Immature female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into control and DHEA-treated groups. Reproductive parameters including estrus cycle and sex hormones were measured after sexual maturity. Adiposity, insulin sensitivity, and plasma lipid profiles were analyzed to assess metabolic profiles. After sacrifice, the insulin signaling pathway and lipogenic genes were analyzed by immunoblotting and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Results An abnormal estrus cycle was observed in the DHEA-treated rats. DHEA treatment also increased plasma testosterone levels and caused multiple cystic follicle formation, which is compatible with the definition of PCOS. There were no significant changes in fasting glucose, fasting insulin, plasma lipid profiles, and blood pressure levels. The adiposity of the DHEA-treated rats was also lower than in the control rats. Moreover, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were only mildly impaired in the DHEA-treated rats after oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests, even though insulin signaling in skeletal muscles was decreased in the DHEA-treated group. Conclusion DHEA-treated rats had reproductive abnormalities which mimicked symptoms of human PCOS. In metabolic parameters, DHEA treatment did not show insulin resistance in the female rats, suggesting that the use of DHEA-treated rats is not a good animal model for the study of metabolic abnormalities in PCOS.