La rata Zucker como modelo para el estudio de la función reproductora

The Zucker rat, a strain first described in 1961, shows multiple pathological alterations, such as obesity, infertility, insulin resistance, reduced energy expenditure, and multiple neuroendocrine alterations. The initial genetic failure of this strain is a leptin receptor missense mutation. In the present review, we analyze the characteristics of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function, with special emphasis on the mechanisms of action involved in the different neuroendocrine alterations and on gene therapy approaches. Alterations in reproductive function and the possible future areas of interest in this field are also discussed.