Sex Differences in a Progeria-Like Syndrome

Summary Intact male and female rats of the same age, same strain, and approximately the same initial body weight were subjected to a relatively low dose of dihydrotachysterol (DHT) over a period of 28 consecutive days. All the females developed a severe progeria-like syndrome (medial calcification of the coronary arteries and aorta, kyphosis, dental abnormalities, severe body weight loss, osteo-sclerosis, loss of hair, and atrophy of the skin, adipose tissue, skeletal musculature, and large parenchymatous organs). The males, on the other hand, were protected against this senile-like syndrome with the exception of a moderate degree of osteosclerosis and a minimal calcific reaction in the interstitial tissue of the renal medulla. The significance of these observations are discussed. We are grateful to Dr. Bernard Carol for assistance in the statistical analysis and to Misses Claudine Bur-stein and Louella Clark for assistance in the experimental work.