Chronic Fructose Consumption As a Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome In Pregnant Female Sprague-Dawley Rats

Virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6 weeks, weighing 110 – 120 g were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group 1 served as control group and was fed with normal rat chow. Group 2 served as Chronic fructose group and was fed ad libitum on a special diet containing 25% fructose mixed with 75% normal rat chow weight/weight for 4 weeks and continued till the 8^th week. Daily vaginal smear was used to assess estrous cycle for two weeks after which, pregnancy was induced. Cervical dislocation followed by laparatomy was carried out on day 19 of pregnancy and blood sample was obtained by cardiac puncture for measurement of serum insulin, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEAS and Inhibin using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ovary was isolated, fixed in 10% formal saline and processed for histological assessment. The serum sex steroid and inhibin profiles of chronic fructose fed pregnant rats are consistent with findings in other models of PCOS. This study shows that chronic fructose consumption in pregnant rat recapitulates ovarian and some metabolic features of PCOS including polycystic ovary morphology, hyperandrogenism, and insulin resistance.