Manifestation of Hyperandrogenism in the Continuous Light Exposure-Induced PCOS Rat Model

In the 2015 study, researchers found that exposing female rats to continuous light resulted in PCOS-like symptoms, including decreased body weights, disordered estrous cycles, polycystic ovary-like changes, fur loss, lethargy, and increased serum testosterone levels. The study, which did not use drugs to induce these symptoms, suggests that continuous light exposure can serve as a naturalistic animal model for PCOS and highlights the potential role of sleep habits in the disorder's development. The continuous light-exposed rats (L/L group) showed an 83.3% incidence of polycystic ovary-like changes and significant physiological and pathological changes, including increased body weight and uterine enlargement, compared to the normal light/dark cycle group (L/D). This research supports the idea that lifestyle factors, particularly sleep disturbances, may contribute to hormonal imbalances and the onset of PCOS.