A PCOS-like Drosophila Melanogaster model

Abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a female endocrine disorder defined by high androgen levels and presence of polycystic ovaries. PCOS is characterized by menstrual irregularities, anovulation, infertility, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, chronic inflammation and increased hair growth. The diagnosis is based on 2003/2004 Rotterdam criteria, which is based on the presence of the following phenotypes: anovulation, clinical and biochemical marks of hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovarian morphology. Theoretical causes could be genetical, environmental or maternal imprinting. Drosophila Melanogaster, a model used broadly in disease research, could bear promising insights to this syndrome. Besides having a lifecycle characterized by a 12 days metamorphism, these species of flies have the ecdysone (steroid) hormone, similar to the human testosterone and the body systems similar to those of the human body. This laboratory work involved the development of a PCOS-like drosophila fly model through exposure to 10mg/ml of testosterone after 24 hours of starvation. Data collection comprised measurements of weight and length, anovulation, triglyceride quantification and RT-qPCR for quantification of inflammatory and PCOS-related genes. Results showed significant differences in response to physical stress among the four groups of flies. Variation in weight and length values, as well as in fecundity, triglyceride assay and relative expression levels were also observed. Although the expression levels of inflammatory and PCOS- related genes were not significantly affected, homeostasis was clearly affected by metabolic disturbances. These observations lead to the conclusion that further experiments should be done in order to establish a more comprehensive definition of the syndrome.