Maternal restraint stress exposure alters the reproductive hormone profile and testis development of the rat male offspring

MARíA EUGENIA PALLARéS; EZEQUIELA ADROVER; CARLOS JAVIER BAIER; NADIA S. BOURGUIGNON; MELISA MONTELEONE; MARCELA BROCCO; SILVIA I. GONZáLEZ-CALVAR; MARTA C. ANTONELLI

STRESS AND HEALTH

JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2012

1532-3005

Several studies have demonstrated that the presence of stressors during pregnancy induces adverse effects on the neuroendocrine system of the offspring later in life. In the present work we investigated the effects of early programming on the male reproductive system, employing a prenatal stress (PS) paradigm. This study found that when pregnant dams were placed in a plastic restrainer three times a day during the last week of pregnancy the offspring showed reduced anogenital distance and a delayed testicular descent. The luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) decrease at postnatal day (PND) 28 and testosterone decrease at PND 75. The increase of testosterone+ dihydrotestosterone (T+DHT) concentrations correlates with 5á Reductase-1 (5áR-1) mRNA increased expression at PND 28. Moreover, PS accelerated the spermatogenesis rate at PND 35 and 60, and was accompanied by an increase in the mean diameter of the seminiferous tubules in pubertal offspring. A reduction in Leydig cell number was observed at PND 35 and 60. Finally, androgen receptor expression was evaluated showing that PND 35 offspring had increased numbers of immunopositive Sertoli cells. Overall, the results confirms that stress during gestation can induce long-term effects on the male offspring reproductive system.. Of particular interest is the pre-pubertal imbalance of circulating hormones that probably triggers accelerated testicular development followed by an increase in total androgens and a decrease in testosterone concentration during adulthood. Exposure to an unfavourable intrauterine environment might enhace the perception of harsh external conditions triggering an anticipated puberty in order to increase reproductive output.