title: Persistent estrus rat models of polycystic ovary disease: an update.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To critically review published articles on polycystic ovary (PCO) disease in rat models, with a focus on delineating its pathophysiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the English-language literature published from 1966 to March 2005 was performed through PubMed search. Keywords or phrases used were persistent estrus, chronic anovulation, polycystic ovary, polycystic ovary disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Articles were also located via bibliographies of published literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Health Sciences Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles on persistent estrus and PCO in rats were selected and reviewed regarding the methods for induction of PCO disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in the reproductive cycle, ovarian morphology, hormonal parameters, and factors associated with the development of PCO disease in rat models were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Principal methods for inducing PCO in the rat include exposure to constant light, anterior hypothalamic and amygdaloidal lesions, and the use of androgens, estrogens, antiprogestin, and mifepristone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The validated rat PCO models provide useful information on morphologic and hormonal disturbances in the pathogenesis of chronic anovulation in this condition. These studies have aimed to replicate the morphologic and hormonal characteristics observed in the human PCO syndrome. The implications of these studies to human condition are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. ksingh@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Krishna B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats