Modern aspects of biological modeling of sexual development disorders

Abstract

Introduction. Studying pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for development of reproductive disorders in rat models is an important direction of modern pathophysiology. The rat has a functioning estrous cycle, a three-week gestation, and a hemochorial placentation. Biological modeling of endocrine gynecological pathology is based on cyclic changes in the ovaries and in the epithelium of the rat vagina. Currently, the development of an experimental model of puberty disorders in childhood is of interest. Premature puberty can lead to various pathological changes in future reproductive health. The relevance of this problem is obvious. The aim of this work was to study modern aspects of modeling premature puberty in girls. Method. Modern domestic and foreign reviews on the mechanism of premature puberty and experimental studies of modeling this pathology in experiments on rats were analyzed. Results. Premature puberty in girls is a disorder manifested by the development of one or all signs of puberty as early as before the age of 7 yrs. Sexual development is associated with characteristic roles of genetic and epigenetic factors. The latter traditionally include nutrition and stress as an adaptive reaction integrated with the activation of hormone synthesis. The nutrition factor is related with the functioning of adipose tissue hormones, including leptin, ghrelin, and the effects of insulin-like growth factor. A number of experimental studies on rats addressing effects of nutrition, stress, and light maladaptation on the reproductive system have demonstrated its significant effect on brain neurotransmitter systems. Regarding the mechanism of premature puberty, the least studied issue is the neuroendocrine regulation of the gonadal axis by the KISS/KISS1R system. Continuing study of the association between changes in the profile of monoamine neurotransmitters and the dynamics of kisspeptin in experiments on rats can expand understanding of sexual differentiation mechanisms in the brain. The obtained data can be translated into clinical practice for the management of premature puberty in girls. Conclusion. Due to the rare prevalence of premature puberty and insufficient data on its pathogenesis, this problem requires detailed study. It is necessary to further study the mechanism of this pathology by biological modeling on female rats at an early age.