CHANGES IN REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS BY PRENATAL STRESS AND EARLY POSTNATAL STIMULATED RATS

RODRÍGUEZ N, ; YANKE J; A C. LIAUDAT; MAYER N; GAUNA H

Tafi Tucumán

Congreso; Asociación de Biología de Tucumán XXII Jornadas Científicas; 2005

Asociación de Biología de Tucumán

CHANGES IN REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS BY PRENATAL STRESS AND EARLY POSTNATAL STIMULATED RATS. Rodríguez N, Yanke J, Liaudat A C, Mayer N, Gauna H F Fisiología Animal- U.N.R.C. E-mail: nmarioli@exa.unrc.edu.ar In our laboratory we have determined that the testicles weight and testosterone (TES) level in male rats decrease with prenatal immobilization stress (IMO). Also, IMO produces Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA) hyperactivity of adult offspring male in basal conditions, and habituation under the same acute stress. It is known that early postnatal stimulations produce beneficial effect on long term emotional reactivity and HPA axis activity that can affect the offspring`s Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HHG) axis. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of early postnatal stimulations in male offspring stressed prenatally on the gonad size, the luteinizing hormone (LH) and TES plasmatic levels and its relationship with the activity of the HPA axis. Males of three months of age were used, offsprings of mothers IMO stressed (EP) and non stressed (CP) during pregnancy. Half of the EP animals were manipulated during the first week of life. Blood and testicles were extracted to all the groups of adult animals to obtain their respective parameters. Prenatal stress decreases testicles weight and TES level in male rats. TES level and the testis size increased under the stimulation without showing differences with the prenatal controls. LH levels showed the same tendency. In conclusion, postnatal stimulation reverts the effects of prenatal stress on some reproductive parameters.