EFFECT OF CHRONIC ALTERNATING STRESS ON CORTICOSTERONE, TESTOSTERONE AND JOHNSEN TESTICULAR HISTOLOGY SCORE IN TWO GENERATIONS OF MALE RATS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Chronic Stress Rat Model, Behavioural tests, Corticosterone, Testosterone, Testis, Johnsen score.
Abstract
Background: Stress has become a ubiquitous aspect of modern day-to-day life, adversely affecting all bodily systems, including the reproductive system and its performance. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of chronic alternating stress on two generation of rats by evaluating the corticosterone and testosterone levels and score the cross section of testis of male rats for spermatogenesis.
Methods: One hundred and thirty-six healthy wistar albino rats 11 weeks old were used in this experimental case-control study. They were distributed into case and control parent groups after assaying for baseline parameters. Case parents were given three weeks of chronic alternating stress while the control parents were not given any stress. Following mating within respective groups the offspring were placed into 5 groups each. One group was assayed at 5 weeks without any stress, the other was given 3 weeks of stress and assayed at 8 weeks, the third group was given stress at the age of 5 and 11 weeks, one group was given stress only at 11 weeks of age. There were two control groups which were offsprings that did not receive any stress and were assayed at the ages of 8 weeks and 11 weeks. Blood sera were assayed for corticosterone and testosterone using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Technique. In both generations behavioural tests were done and analysed. Testicular specimens were taken from 4 male rats in each group and slides were made using histological stains and were scored for spermatogenesis.
Results: Case parents exhibited significantly higher stress hormone levels (ACTH: P = 0.004; Corticosterone: P < 0.001) and increased anxiety in behavioural tests (decreased locomotion, P < 0.001) compared to control parents. The rats given early life stress had raised corticosterone levels (P=0.002) and decreased testosterone levels shown by significant p-values (P=0.045). Histological analysis revealed that early life stressed offspring had lower Johnsen scores for the testes compared to late life stressed offspring however these were because of the age difference and when compared with same aged control offsprings there was no significant difference. Conclusion: The early life stressed rats did not fare well as compared to rats given repeated stress in terms of behavioural tests and reproductive hormones however there was no significant difference in spermatogenesis score in testis.
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Madiha Khattak
MBBS, MPhil, PhD Physiology, CHPE, CHR, Assistant Professor, Physiology Department, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
Muhammad Omar Malik
MBBS, MPhil Physiology, PhD (Glasgow), Professor, Physiology Department, Institute of Basic
Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
Robina Usman3
MBBS, MPhil Physiology, MHPE, PhD Physiology, Professor, Physiology Department, Peshawar
Medical College, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Luqman
pharm, MPhil Pharmacology), Pharmacist, Pharmacology Department, Peshawar Medical
College, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Ammara Khattak
BDS, MPhil Anatomy, CHPE, CHR, Lecturer, Oral Biology Department, Khyber College of
Dentistry, Peshawar, Pakistan
Dur E Shehwar Ali
MBBS, MPhil Physiology, CHPE, CHR, Assistant Professor, Physiology Department, Khyber
College of Dentistry, Peshawar, Pakistan
