Researchers say that sheep are a better model for the human menopause than are laboratory rats.

The menopause causes problems for some women, such as osteoporosis and hot flashes. Hormone replacement therapy may help by restoring estrogen levels, but this has been linked with health fears. So it is important to have a good way of testing out new potential treatments.

Till now this has been done on laboratory rats with their ovaries removed. But researchers at Colorado State University now say that they are getting better results from studying sheep with their ovaries removed. For instance, they have been able to use an embedded temperature sensor to do detailed studies of hot flashes - which could help evaluate new drugs to alleviate them. Other studies have covered eyesight, bone loss and bone fractures, and arthritis.

Source

Colorado State University 24th July 2003