Effects of Excess Testosterone on NOD Mouse Adipocyte Cell Size
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.
Recommended Citation
Simianer, Courtney, "Effects of Excess Testosterone on NOD Mouse Adipocyte Cell Size" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 51.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/posters/51
Poster Number
22
Additional Mentoring Department
Biological Sciences
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.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Binder, April