Infertility

The disease includes a host of health problems, including obesity, insulin resistance leading to Type 2 (mellitus/adult-onset diabetes), hypertension, artery-clogging bad cholesterol and triglycerides, and abnormally high blood clotting.

Many of these same features are characteristic of polycystic ovary syndrome, an illness that leads to Rebecca Krisher, a Purdue developmental and reproductive biologist, is studying the Ossabaws to determine if they also embody all of the metabolic and reproductive aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

If further research confirms the preliminary finding that this swine breed exhibits PCOS, it could lead to a cure for that type of Currently there is no research model for polycystic ovary syndrome, and the IU/Purdue Ossabaw herd is the only breeding group of this species, which scientists rescued from a South Carolina coastal island.

Krisher's colleagues at Indiana University Medical School, led by Michael Sturek, are studying links between polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

"PCOS is one of the leading causes of Read more...