Effects of Excess Testosterone on NOD Mouse Adipocyte Cell Size

Presenter Information

Courtney Simianer

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC Ballroom C/D

Start Date

15-5-2014

End Date

15-5-2014

Keywords

Ovary, Adipose, Testosterone

Abstract

The purpose of this current experiment is to determine the effects of the steroid dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice; a strain of mice that is susceptible to developing diabetes genetically. High levels of testosterone are common in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a disease that affects one in three women in their reproductive years. Mice were previously treated with DHT or a placebo over a 12 week period to stimulate PCOS-like symptoms. The body weight of the mice was measured weekly and after 12 weeks of treatment four different types of adipocyte (fat) tissues; which included retroperitoneal, gonadal, inguinal, and brown fat were fixed and embedded in paraffin wax. Although all of the mice started out with similar body weights the placebo treated group had a plateau in body weight whereas the DHT treated group had a significant increase in body weight over the 12 week period. These data suggest that DHT causes weight gain in the NOD mice and, from this, we hypothesize that the size of the adipocyte tissue is going to increase in mice treated with DHT compared to the placebo treated mice. To examine the adipocytes, the different tissues will be sectioned with a Microtome and stained using hematoxylin and eosin staining; the most commonly used staining protocol for tissues. An excess amount of testosterone and increased weight gain are symptoms of PCOS, and this experiment could provide insight into how testosterone causes this change in women.

Poster Number

22

Faculty Mentor(s)

Binder, April

Additional Mentoring Department

Biological Sciences

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May 15th, 8:30 AM May 15th, 11:00 AM

Effects of Excess Testosterone on NOD Mouse Adipocyte Cell Size

SURC Ballroom C/D

The purpose of this current experiment is to determine the effects of the steroid dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice; a strain of mice that is susceptible to developing diabetes genetically. High levels of testosterone are common in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a disease that affects one in three women in their reproductive years. Mice were previously treated with DHT or a placebo over a 12 week period to stimulate PCOS-like symptoms. The body weight of the mice was measured weekly and after 12 weeks of treatment four different types of adipocyte (fat) tissues; which included retroperitoneal, gonadal, inguinal, and brown fat were fixed and embedded in paraffin wax. Although all of the mice started out with similar body weights the placebo treated group had a plateau in body weight whereas the DHT treated group had a significant increase in body weight over the 12 week period. These data suggest that DHT causes weight gain in the NOD mice and, from this, we hypothesize that the size of the adipocyte tissue is going to increase in mice treated with DHT compared to the placebo treated mice. To examine the adipocytes, the different tissues will be sectioned with a Microtome and stained using hematoxylin and eosin staining; the most commonly used staining protocol for tissues. An excess amount of testosterone and increased weight gain are symptoms of PCOS, and this experiment could provide insight into how testosterone causes this change in women.