A Preclinical Mouse Model of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy: Metabolic and Behavioral Outcomes
October 2024
in “
Journal of the Endocrine Society
”
TLDR Gender-affirming hormone therapy affects metabolism differently based on treatment type.
This study investigates the metabolic and behavioral effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) using a preclinical mouse model. Forty male mice were divided into four groups to simulate different hormone treatments, including estrogen supplementation with an androgen blocker and orchidectomy (ORX). Over 8 weeks, the study found that intact mice treated with estradiol benzoate and finasteride (EB+F) gained less weight and exhibited less avoidance behavior compared to controls. Metabolic assessments showed increased oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and heat production in EB+F treated mice. ORX mice treated with EB showed improved glucose clearance and suppressed fasting blood glucose. These findings suggest that GAHT affects metabolism differently depending on the treatment type, highlighting the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms.