Figure 4.
The AR agonist DHT reduces atherosclerosis, subcutaneous fat mass, and cholesterol levels in ovariectomized female mice. Female apoE-deficient mice were ovariectomized (OVX) and treated with the AR agonist DHT or placebo (P) from 8 weeks of age and fed an HFD between 8 and 16 weeks of age. A) Atherosclerotic lesion area in the aortic arch, thoracic, and abdominal aorta after lipid staining with Sudan IV, expressed as percentage of the total area (n = 15/group) at 16 weeks. *P < 0.05 vs. OVX P (t test on log-transformed values). B) Weights of dissected visceral and subcutaneous (s.c.) fat depots normalized to body weight (BW) (OVX P, n = 14; OVX DHT, n = 16). ***P < 0.001 vs. OVX P (Mann-Whitney test). C) Weight of dissected skeletal muscle [extensor digitorum longus (EDL)] normalized to BW (OVX P, n = 14; OVX DHT, n = 16). *P < 0.05 vs. OVX P (t test). D) Serum levels of total cholesterol after 2 and 8 weeks of HFD and DHT treatment (n = 15/group). **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001 vs. OVX P (Mann-Whitney test). E) Serum levels of triglycerides after 2 and 8 weeks of HFD and DHT treatment (n = 15/group). F) Serum insulin after 2 and 8 weeks (n = 14/group). *P < 0.05 vs. OVX P (t test on log-transformed values). All values are provided as means ± sem.