7288 A Preclinical Mouse Model of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy: Metabolic and Behavioral Outcomes
Authors: Yasrebi A , Otersen K , Groh O , Guthman E , Shmarakov I , Campbell S , Roepke T A 
Published: October 2024

Disclosure: A. Yasrebi: None. K. Otersen: None. O. Groh: None. E. Guthman: None. I. Shmarakov: None. S. Campbell: None. T.A. Roepke: None.

The long-term metabolic effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is largely unknown, in part, due to the lack of properly designed preclinical animal models. Here we propose a rodent study design, beyond the classical endocrine model of gonadectomy and steroid treatment, to accurately reflect the reality of the trans experience. Specifically, trans women do not all seek or undergo orchidectomy (ORX) instead take estrogen supplementation along with an androgen blocker such as finasteride. In this study, 40 WT C57 male mice were divided into 4 groups of 10 mice - 1) intact with oil vehicle, 2) intact with estradiol benzoate (EB, 150 μg/kg/d) and finasteride (F, 0.25 mg/kg/d), 3) ORX with oil; and ORX with EB (150 μg/kg/d). Each mouse was dosed daily for 8 weeks while on a standard chow diet. Mice were pair housed and food intake and body weight were collected weekly prior to behavioral (open field, elevated plus, Y-maze) and metabolic (body composition, metabolic rates, activity, tolerance testing) phenotyping. Intact mice treated with EB+F exhibited less avoidance behaviors, potentially due to differences in movement, with no differences between treatments in the Y-maze. Cumulatively, Intact:EB+F gained less weight than Intact:oil (3.4 ± 0.4 g vs 5.3 ± 0.4 g), while ORX:oil mice gained less than ORX:EB (2.2 ± 0.5 g vs 5.5 ± 0.7 g). These interactive effects were due to differences in the gain of fat or lean mass between ORX and intact and lower cumulative food intake in ORX:oil mice (136 ± 3.8 g vs Intact:oil: 159 ± 4.9 g; Intact:EB+F: 167 ± 6.1 g; ORX:EB: 171 ± 3.4 g). Metabolic assessments found that Intact:EB+F exhibited elevated V.O2, V.CO2, and heat production in the light and dark cycle compared to Intact:oil, while ORX:EB only exhibited elevated heat production compared to ORX:oil. Similarly, Intact:EB+F and ORX:EB moved more than their counterparts during the dark cycle; however, only Intact:EB+F exhibited elevated wheel running. Tolerance tests (i.p.) found that glucose clearance was augmented in ORX:EB mice while insulin-induced glucose clearance was lower in Intact:EB+F compared to Intact:oil but modestly elevated by EB in ORX mice. These data, along with suppressed fasting blood glucose in ORX:EB mice, suggest that glucose homeostasis is differentially modulated by GAHT paradigms in mice. Analysis of hypothalamic, hepatic, adipose, and intestinal gene expression is currently underway. Collectively, these data, generated by using a translationally-relevant preclinical animal model, are the first to establish that metabolism is differentially affected by both steroid treatments and ORX and suggesting that the long-term metabolic effects of GAHT are dependent on the type of treatment. The underlying mechanisms and sites of action remain to be investigated.

Presentation: 6/3/2024