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CHRONIC INTERMITTENT IMMOBILIZATION OF MALE RATS THROUGHOUT SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT: A STRESS PROTOCOL

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2001

S. A. Almeida
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto - USP, Brazil
J. A. Anselmo-Franci
Affiliation:
Department of Morphology, Stomatology and Physiology, Dental School of Ribeirão Preto - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
A. A. Rosa e Silva
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto - USP, Brazil
T. L. Lamano Carvalho
Affiliation:
Department of Morphology, Stomatology and Physiology, Dental School of Ribeirão Preto - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Abstract

A stress protocol - 6 h of daily immobilization - was applied throughout male rat sexual development. Immobilization caused a small reduction in food intake and body weight gain whereas pair-fed animals had a marginal decrease only in body weight gain. Stress, confirmed by increased plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone, caused a decrease in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) after 15 and 60 days of immobilization and in plasma testosterone after 60 days, but produced an opposite androgenic response in pubertal animals (15 days of immobilization). A presumed sympathetic over-stimulation is suggested to account for increased testosterone levels in pubertal stressed rats.

Type
Rapid Communication
Copyright
© The Physiological Society 1998

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