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Role of estrogen and leptin in the estrous cycle of ob/ob and ovariectomized mice
Author(s) -
Ng Ka Yan,
Yong Jennifer,
Chakraborty Tandra R.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.703.2
Subject(s) - estrous cycle , estrogen , leptin , medicine , endocrinology , ovariectomized rat , hormone , biology , obesity
There is a known impact of gonadal hormones like estrogen and leptin in the regulation of the estrous cycle. Analyzes of estrous cycle is an important tool as female mice are considered to be an excellent model for the study of neuroendocrine mechanism underlying a wide variety of normal functions and pathophysiological conditions in human. Estrogen, a hormone secreted by the ovaries regulates reproductive cycle and has a negative effect on food intake. Leptin, a hormone secreted by the adipose tissue has an inhibitory effect on food intake. In this study we tried to analyze the estrous cycle in relation with leptin and estrogen levels in two mouse lines ob/ob and ovariectomized (OVX) female mice , both of which are infertile but with contrasting leptin levels. To assess the progression of estrous cycle, vaginal smears was performed on female WT, ob/ob and OVX (n=4) mice. We found that ob/ob mice were acyclic and were at a persistent estrous phase with cornified cells. OVX mice showed an increase in leukocytes and were also acyclic. Quantitization of beta‐estradiol showed reduced levels in ob/ob as compared to WT and no beta‐estradiol in OVX mice. Thus, this study leads us to believe the estrous cycle of these mouse models is dependent on estrogen levels and quantitation of the cells in the various stages of the estrous cycle could be an useful tool to determine the stage and use of the animal as a model.