Fig. 1From: Letrozole treatment of adult female mice results in a similar reproductive phenotype but distinct changes in metabolism and the gut microbiome compared to pubertal miceLetrozole treatment of adult female mice resulted in reproductive hallmarks of PCOS. Letrozole (LET) treatment was initiated at 8 weeks of age in the adult PCOS mouse model compared to 4 weeks of age in the pubertal PCOS mouse model (a). LET treatment of pubertal and adult female mice for 5 weeks resulted in elevated serum testosterone (b-c). LET treatment of adult female mice resulted in elevated LH levels (d), and decreased cyclicity as measured by percentage (%) of mice that had an estrous cycle between 4 and 5 weeks of treatment (e). In contrast to pubertal mice, LET treatment of adult female mice did not result in an increase in ovarian weight (f). Pubertal PCOS model (n = 24 placebo (P), n = 22 LET; adult PCOS model (n = 16 P, n = 14 LET). Student t-test; * p < 0.05. LET treatment of adult female mice resulted in ovaries lacking corpora lutea (CL) and containing cystic follicles (CF) and hemorrhagic cysts (HC) compared to placebo-treated mice (g)Back to article page