Figure 1.

Administration of carnitine formulations ameliorated estrous cyclity disrupted by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The stages of the estrous cycle, assessed by analysis of vaginal smears, was performed daily from the seventh day after the first injection of DHEA. Representative estrous cycle of one mouse from control (A) and DHEA group (B). Representative estrous cycle of two mouse from DHEA + C1: 20% of DHEA + C1 mice showed normal estrous during the second week of treatment that was lost in the last week of treatment (C); 80% of DHEA + C1 mice did not present estrous during the whole length of treatment (D). Representative estrous cycle of two mice from DHEA + C2: 50% DHEA + C2 mice presented normal estrous in the second week of treatment only (E); 50% of DHEA + C2 mice showed normal estrous in the final week of treatment (F).