Abstract:Objective To establish a polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) animal model of prepubertal female rats induced by high-fat diet, and to explore the reproductive and metabolic characteristics of PCOS rats. Methods Prepubertal female rats were randomly divided into two groups: the control group which received a normal diet (group C, n = 9), and the experimental group which received a high-fat diet (group D, n = 9), and both two groups had been fed for 105 days. In addition, the adult female rats were randomly divided into another two groups: the control group which received 1% carboxymethyl cellulose (group A, n = 9), and the other group which received 1 mg/kg of letrozole (group B, n = 9), and both groups had been fed for 21 days. The body weight, estrus cycle and histology of ovary in the four groups were observed. Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, glucose tolerance, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), lipid profile, hormonal profile, leutinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) mRNA expression were also measured. Results The body weight and ovarian weight of group B were lighter than that of group A (P < 0.05). Compared to group A, the AUC of glucose tolerance increased (P < 0.05). The AUC of glucose tolerance, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, serum total cholesterol, estradiol and progesterone of 49, 77 and 105 days in group D were higher than those in group C (P < 0.05), and the quantitative insulin sensitivity index and testosterone in group C were higher than those in group D (P < 0.05). Conclusions Prepuberty highfat diets induce PCOS in female rats and produce metabolic disorders and ovarian changes that are similar to those observed in patients with PCOS.