Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone TherapiesGabriele Lori *1, Alessia Tammaro *1,2, Andrea Martinelli 3, Luigia Cancemi 3, Paolo Frassanito 3, Roberta Tassinari 1, Francesca Maranghi 1
1Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 2Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 3Centre Animal Research and Walfare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità
The protocol describes the development of two rodent models mimicking gender-affirming hormone therapies through subcutaneous administration of testosterone or estradiol plus cyproterone acetate (used in human therapies for transgender people): setting of the doses, identification of relevant biomarkers, and evaluation of the effects.