"Characterization of a chemical-induced, follicle-deplete, ovary-intact mouse model for peri- and post-menopause"
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By the year 2025, 19.5% of the population of the U.S. will be post-menopausal women.  Many health risks are associated with menopause, thus, research into menopause and aging in women is of prime interest.  Investigations of menopause-associated disorders in a relevant animal model would be particularly useful.  The occupational chemical 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) has been well characterized and found to induce pre-mature ovarian failure in mice and rats by accelerating the natural process of atresia (apoptosis).  More recently, preliminary data have demonstrated that VCD-induced follicle loss in mice can cause depletion of primordial follicles within 15 days of daily dosing.  This results in complete ovarian failure within 60 days of the onset of dosing.  Thus, this animal model closely mimics the natural progression through peri-menopause and into the post-menopausal stage of life in women.  This model is currently being utilized in collaborative studies involving end points relevant to known menopause-associated diseases such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and ovarian cancer.  Data showing VCD animal model development and examples of findings from the disease-related studies will be presented.