Severe Impairment of Reproductive Parameters and Hippocampus Structure after Chronic Stress Induction in Rats: The Impact of a Watch-Out Period - Abstract
This study aimed at determining the effects of restrain and cold stress on neuroreproductive parameters in rats and assessing the effects of a watch
out period. 36 adult rats were divided into 3 groups (n=12): not stressed, restraint and cold stressed (8 hours/day/4 weeks) during which, exploration,
anxiety, sexual behaviour and body mass were evaluated. After the stress induction, the half of animals in each group were sacrificed while the second half
was maintained during a watch-out period of 4 weeks before being sacrificed. After sacrifices, adrenal mass, biochemical, sperm and histomorphometric
parameters of the testes and hippocampus were examined. Results showed that compared to the control group, restraint and cold stress caused significant
decreases (p<0.05–0.001) in exploratory activities, body mass, sexual motivation and performance parameters, sperm count, mobility and daily sperm
production, serum testosterone and total cholesterol levels coupled to significant increases (p<0.05 – 0.001) in anxiety parameters and adrenals gland mass.
Significant reductions (p<0.05 – 0.001) in the number of cells in the Ammon’s horns 1 and 3 of the hippocampus and the diameter and epithelium height of
the testicular seminiferous tubes were also observed. These alterations were more severe in restraint-stressed animals. After the watch-out period, the altered
adrenal gland mass, exploration, anxiety and sexual behaviour parameters were restored whereas biochemical, sperm and histological parameters were not.
These findings indicate that stress-induced neuroreproductive alterations depend on the nature of parameters, the characteristics of the stressor and could be
used for the management of patients suffering from stress-induced infertility