Sex Differences in Metabolic Responses to Chronic Immobilization Stress in Rats

Abstract Background Responses to stress could range from homeostatic variations to life-threatening effects depending on the type, timing and severity of the applied stimulus. Gender is accompanied by variations in oxidative stress, which causes the development of metabolic diseases. Under physiological conditions, females were found to be less susceptible to oxidative stress. Aim of work: This study was conducted to highlight the sex differences in the metabolic responses to chronic immobilization stress in rats, and to elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods Forty adult Wistar rats of both sexes; were randomly divided into 2 main groups: control group and stressed group, each of which was further subdivided into male and female groups. Stressed groups were exposed to chronic immobilization for 4 weeks. All rats were subjected to determination of body mass index, visceral fat weight, absolute and relative weights of liver and pancreas, plasma glucose, glucose uptake by diaphragm, glucose output by kidneys, lipid profile and plasma levels of insulin, leptin and sex hormones, malodialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and nitrite. HOMA-B and HOMA-IR were calculated. Also, caspase 3 was assessed in pancreas by immunohistochemistry. Results Stressed male rats showed lower BMI, higher relative liver weight, dyslipidemia, fasting hyperglycemia, higher glucose output by kidneys, lower glucose uptake by diaphragm, HOMA-B and plasma levels of insulin, testosterone and TAC and higher plasma estrogen and MDA levels compared to the control male group. Compared to the control female group, stressed female rate exhibited hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, higher plasma sex hormones. Compared to stressed male rats, stressed female group showed significantly higher BMI percentage change and plasma levels of TAC, estrogen and testosterone, but significantly lower absolute liver weight, glucose output by the kidneys, plasma levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides, and atherogenic index. Conclusion Chronic immobilization stress imposes greater hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic status in males than in females. The altered sex hormonal pattern and lowered antioxidant defences could be contributory mechanisms

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Sex differences impact the pancreatic response to chronic immobilization stress in rats

Cell Stress and Chaperones ◽

10.1007/s12192-020-01169-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 199-215

Author(s):

Sara Mohamed Naguib Abdel Hafez ◽

Fatma Alzhraa Fouad Abdelbaky Allam ◽

Eman Elbassuoni

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Immobilization Stress ◽

Chronic Immobilization Stress

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Chronic immobilization stress induces anxiety-related behaviors and affects brain essential minerals in male rats

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000682 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Zafer Sahin ◽

Alpaslan Ozkurkculer ◽

Omer Faruk Kalkan ◽

Ahmet Ozkaya ◽

Aynur Koc ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immobilization Stress ◽

Central Area ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Male Rats ◽

Control Group ◽

Male Wistar Rats ◽

Swimming Test ◽

The Brain ◽

Center Area ◽

Chronic Immobilization Stress

Abstract. Alterations of essential elements in the brain are associated with the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. It is known that chronic/overwhelming stress may cause some anxiety and/or depression. We aimed to investigate the effects of two different chronic immobilization stress protocols on anxiety-related behaviors and brain minerals. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups as follows ( n = 10/group): control, immobilization stress-1 (45 minutes daily for 7-day) and immobilization stress-2 (45 minutes twice a day for 7-day). Stress-related behaviors were evaluated by open field test and forced swimming test. In the immobilization stress-1 and immobilization stress-2 groups, percentage of time spent in the central area (6.38 ± 0.41% and 6.28 ± 1.03% respectively, p < 0.05) and rearing frequency (2.75 ± 0.41 and 3.85 ± 0.46, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) were lower, latency to center area (49.11 ± 5.87 s and 44.92 ± 8.04 s, p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively), were higher than the control group (8.65 ± 0.49%, 5.37 ± 0.44 and 15.3 ± 3.32 s, respectively). In the immobilization stress-1 group, zinc (12.65 ± 0.1 ppm, p < 0.001), magnesium (170.4 ± 1.7 ppm, p < 0.005) and phosphate (2.76 ± 0.1 ppm, p < 0.05) levels were lower than the control group (13.87 ± 0.16 ppm, 179.31 ± 1.87 ppm and 3.11 ± 0.06 ppm, respectively). In the immobilization stress-2 group, magnesium (171.56 ± 1.87 ppm, p < 0.05), phosphate (2.44 ± 0.07 ppm, p < 0.001) levels were lower, and manganese (373.68 ± 5.76 ppb, p < 0.001) and copper (2.79 ± 0.15 ppm, p < 0.05) levels were higher than the control group (179.31 ± 1.87 ppm, 3.11 ± 0.06 ppm, 327.25 ± 8.35 ppb and 2.45 ± 0.05 ppm, respectively). Our results indicated that 7-day chronic immobilization stress increased anxiety-related behaviors in both stress groups. Zinc, magnesium, phosphate, copper and manganese levels were affected in the brain.

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Compounds from Ilex paraguariensis extracts have antioxidant effects in the brains of rats subjected to chronic immobilization stress

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2017-0267 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 42 (11) ◽

pp. 1172-1178 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ana C. Colpo ◽

Maria Eduarda de Lima ◽

Marisol Maya-López ◽

Hemerson Rosa ◽

Cristina Márquez-Curiel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Damage ◽

Immobilization Stress ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Protective Role ◽

Ilex Paraguariensis ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Species Formation ◽

Lipid And Protein Oxidation ◽

Response To Stress ◽

Chronic Immobilization Stress

Immobilization induces oxidative damage to the brain. Ilex paraguariensis extracts (Mate) and their major natural compound, chlorogenic acid (CGA), exert protective effects against reactive oxygen species formation. Here, the effects of Mate and CGA on oxidative damage induced by chronic immobilization stress (CIS) in the cortex, hippocampus, and striatum were investigated. For CIS, animals were immobilized for 6 h every day for 21 consecutive days. Rats received Mate or CGA by intragastric gavage 30 min before every restraint session. Endpoints of oxidative stress (levels of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) forms of glutathione) were evaluated following CIS. While CIS increased oxidized lipid and carbonyl levels in all brain regions, CGA (and Mate to a lesser extent) attenuated lipid and protein oxidation as compared with control groups. GSH/GSSG balance showed a tendency to increase in all regions in response to stress and antioxidants. Taken together, our results support a protective role of dietary antioxidants against the neuronal consequences of stress.

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Enriched environment modulates behavior, myelination and augments molecules governing the plasticity in the forebrain region of rats exposed to chronic immobilization stress

Metabolic Brain Disease ◽

10.1007/s11011-018-0370-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 875-887 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Gangadharan Thamizhoviya ◽

Arambakkam Janardhanam Vanisree

Keyword(s):

Immobilization Stress ◽

Enriched Environment ◽

Chronic Immobilization Stress

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Neurogenesis inhibition in the dorsal vagal complex by chronic immobilization stress in the adult rat

Neuroscience ◽

10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.10.040 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 158 (2) ◽

pp. 524-536 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

F. Chigr ◽

F. Rachidi ◽

S. Segura ◽

S. Mahaut ◽

C. Tardivel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immobilization Stress ◽

Dorsal Vagal Complex ◽

Adult Rat ◽

Chronic Immobilization Stress

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Anti-Stress and Anti-Depressive Effects of Spinach Extracts on a Chronic Stress-Induced Depression Mouse Model through Lowering Blood Corticosterone and Increasing Brain Glutamate and Glutamine Levels

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm7110406 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 406 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hyeonwi Son ◽

Soonwoong Jung ◽

Jung Shin ◽

Min Kang ◽

Hyun Kim

Keyword(s):

Free Amino ◽

Immobilization Stress ◽

Water Extract ◽

Ethanol Extract ◽

Normal Diet ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Health Maintenance ◽

Lower Blood ◽

Depressed Group ◽

Chronic Immobilization Stress

Spinach is one of the most widely consumed vegetables, and is known as for both physical and mental health maintenance. However, there is little information about how spinach protects one from stress. In the present study, we created three extracts from Spinach oleracea L., (frozen powder (FP), water extract (WE), and ethanol extract (EE)), and examined their anti-stress and anti-depressive effects on mouse using a chronic immobilization stress (CIS) regimen. FP, WE, and EE showed different free amino acid constituents. Calorie-balanced diets derived from each extract were tested for their ability to reduce blood corticosterone (CORT) levels in naïve mice. Diets supplemented with FP or EE induced lower blood CORT levels than a normal diet, but the WE diet did not. Mobility duration and sucrose preference were increased by FP and EE supplementation in the CIS-induced depression animal models. Moreover, FP and EE increased glutamate and glutamine levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) compared with CIS-induced depressed group. These results suggest that spinach has anti-stress and anti-depressive properties by lowering CORT and increasing glutamate and glutamine levels in the mPFC.

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