Prenatal Androgenization of Ewes as a Model of Hirsutism in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The study investigated wool characteristics in sheep prenatally androgenized (PA) with testosterone propionate to model hirsutism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Wool samples from PA and control sheep were analyzed at 4 and 13 months of age. PA male sheep showed reduced wool fiber diameter at 4 months but not at 13 months, while PA females exhibited increased wool fiber diameter at 13 months but not at 4 months. No significant changes in wool length, color, or medullation were found. Additionally, PA female sheep had higher serum testosterone levels at 12 months. The findings suggested that PA ewes could serve as a translational model for studying increased hair diameter in hirsute women with PCOS.