Syrian Hamster Ovariectomy and Tissue Collection

Adult female (n = 4) Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were purchased from Charles River Laboratories (Wilmington, MA, United States) at approximately 60 days of age (120–130 g). Females were housed individually in polycarbonate cages (50.8 × 40.6 × 20.3 cm). All animals were maintained on a reversed 14 h:10 h light/dark photoperiod (lights off at 1300 h). The animal room was maintained at a controlled temperature of 22°C, and food and water were available ad libitum. Subjects were ovariectomized (at approximately 90 days of age) and were approximately 140–150 days old at the time of tissue collection. All animal procedures were carried out in accordance with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH Publications No. 80–23; revised 2011) and approved by the University of Minnesota Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.