Effects of Treadmill Exercise on Sexual Behavior and Reproductive Parameters in Chronically Stressed-Male Rats

Exposure to chronic stress stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and then simultaneously inhibits hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) axis activity. The inhibition formed by the HPA axis is the main mechanism of action of stress on reproductive function. HPG axis activity is known to be changed by various factors, including exercise. Exercise has been found to have a number of positive effects on sexual behavior, reproductive hormones, and sperm parameters in studies with animal models for many years. The main aim of this study is to investigate the effects of chronic treadmill exercise on chronically stressed-male rats’ sexual behavior, reproductive hormones, and sperm parameters. A total of 40 sexually adult male rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups as control, stress, exercise, and stress+exercise. Animals in the exercise group were subjected to the chronic treadmill exercise (moderate intensity) for 33 days with a periodic increase in speed and duration. Animals in the stress group were exposed to restraint stress for 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h during the first, second and third 15 days respectively. Sexual behavior parameters, hormone measurements, and sperm parameters were evaluated. The main effects of chronic exercise on sexual behavior were centered on a significant increase in the ejaculation frequency (EF) in the stress+exercise group. Also, sperm concentration and motility in the stress group significantly decreased, and then sperm motility was improved by exercise in the stress+exercise group. In sum, our results show that chronic treadmill exercise may improve the adverse effects of chronic stress on sexual behavior and sperm parameters in male rats in terms of some parameters.

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Changes in masculine sexual behavior, corticosterone and testosterone in response to acute and chronic stress in male rats

Hormones and Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.yhbeh.2003.04.001 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 327-337 ◽

Cited By ~ 117

Author(s):

S Retana-Márquez ◽

H Bonilla-Jaime ◽

G Vázquez-Palacios ◽

R Martínez-García ◽

J Velázquez-Moctezuma

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behavior ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Male Rats ◽

Acute And Chronic Stress

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Effect of Voluntary Exercise Training on Corticosterone Level and Immobility Behavior Induced by Chronic Stress in Rats

Caspian Journal of Neurological Sciences ◽

10.32598/cjns.6.22.6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 164-169

Author(s):

Zahra Entezari ◽

◽

Ayyub Babaei ◽

Saleh Rahmati-Ahmadabad ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Exercise Training ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Exercise Group ◽

Voluntary Exercise ◽

Male Rats ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Chronic Unpredictable Stress ◽

Corticosterone Concentration ◽

Serum Corticosterone ◽

Immobility Time

Background: Depression is a common mood disorder that in the long-term impairs thoughts, behavior, feelings, and health. Chronic unpredictable stress is one of the factors that can cause depression. Objectives: To investigate the effect of voluntary exercise training on immobility behavior (caused by chronic unpredictable stress) and serum corticosterone concentration. Materials & Methods: A total of 24 male rats were randomly and equally assigned to four groups of healthy-control, healthy-exercise, depressed-control, and depressed-exercise. Depressed-control and depressed-exercise groups were first exposed to three weeks of chronic unpredictable stress. After this period, the exercise groups performed four weeks of voluntary exercise training. Twentyfour hours after the last training session, a forced swim test was taken from the rats and their blood samples were taken 24 hours later. The obtained data were analyzed using a 2-way analysis of variance (significance level: P<0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between study variables. All statistical analyses were performed in SPSS v. 22. Results: Chronic stress increased immobility behavior (P=0.001) and serum corticosterone concentration (P=0.001). In contrast, exercise training reduced immobility behavior (P=0.001) and serum corticosterone (P=0.001). The immobility time (P=0.001) and serum corticosterone concentration in the depressed-exercise group were higher than those in the healthy-exercise group (P=0.001). There was a positive correlation between immobility behavior and serum corticosterone concentration (r=0.85 and P=0.001). Conclusion: While the chronic stress increases the immobility behavior and serum corticosterone concentration, voluntary exercise training can reduce immobility behavior and serum corticosterone and adjust some depression symptoms.

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Hypoactivity of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis during Recovery from Chronic Variable Stress

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2005-1041 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 147 (4) ◽

pp. 2008-2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 113

Author(s):

Michelle M. Ostrander ◽

Yvonne M. Ulrich-Lai ◽

Dennis C. Choi ◽

Neil M. Richtand ◽

James P. Herman

Keyword(s):

Mrna Expression ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Hpa Axis ◽

Male Rats ◽

Plasma Acth ◽

Novel Environment ◽

Systemic Hypoxia ◽

Delayed Recovery ◽

Chronic Variable Stress

Chronic stress induces both functional and structural adaptations within the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, suggestive of long-term alterations in neuroendocrine reactivity to subsequent stressors. We hypothesized that prior chronic stress would produce persistent enhancement of HPA axis reactivity to novel stressors. Adult male rats were exposed to chronic variable stress (CVS) for 1 wk and allowed to recover. Plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels were measured in control or CVS rats exposed to novel psychogenic (novel environment or restraint) or systemic (hypoxia) stressors at 16 h, 4 d, 7 d, or 30 d after CVS cessation. Plasma ACTH and corticosterone responses to psychogenic stressors were attenuated at 4 d (novel environment and restraint) and 7 d (novel environment only) recovery from CVS, whereas hormonal responses to the systemic stressor were largely unaffected by CVS. CRH mRNA expression was up-regulated in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) at 16 h after cessation of CVS, but no other alterations in PVN CRH or arginine vasopressin mRNA expression were observed. Thus, in contrast to our hypothesis, reductions of HPA axis sensitivity to psychogenic stressors manifested at delayed recovery time points after CVS. The capacity of the HPA axis to respond to a systemic stressor appeared largely intact during recovery from CVS. These data suggest that chronic stress selectively targets brain circuits responsible for integration of psychogenic stimuli, resulting in decreased HPA axis responsiveness, possibly mediated in part by transitory alterations in PVN CRH expression.

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Facilitation of the HPA Axis to a Novel Acute Stress Following Chronic Stress Exposure Modulates Histone Acetylation and the ERK/MAPK Pathway in the Dentate Gyrus of Male Rats

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2013-1918 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 155 (8) ◽

pp. 2942-2952 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Chantelle L. Ferland ◽

Erin P. Harris ◽

Mai Lam ◽

Laura A. Schrader

Keyword(s):

Dentate Gyrus ◽

Histone Acetylation ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Hpa Axis ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Male Rats ◽

Stress Exposure ◽

Erk Activation ◽

Acute And Chronic Stress ◽

Acute Stressor

Evidence suggests that when presented with novel acute stress, animals previously exposed to chronic homotypic or heterotypic stressors exhibit normal or enhanced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response compared with animals exposed solely to that acute stressor. The molecular mechanisms involved in this effect remain unknown. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is one of the key pathways regulated in the hippocampus in both acute and chronic stress. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of prior chronic stress, using the chronic variable stress model (CVS), with exposure to a novel acute stressor (2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethyl thiazoline; TMT) on ERK activation, expression of the downstream protein BCL-2, and the glucocorticoid receptor co-chaperone BAG-1 in control and chronically stressed male rats. TMT exposure after chronic stress resulted in a significant interaction of chronic and acute stress in all 3 hippocampus subregions on ERK activation and BCL-2 expression. Significantly, acute stress increased ERK activation, BCL-2 and BAG-1 protein expression in the dentate gyrus (DG) of CVS-treated rats compared with control, CVS-treated alone, and TMT-only animals. Furthermore, CVS significantly increased ERK activation in medial prefrontal cortex, but acute stress had no significant effect. Inhibition of corticosterone synthesis with metyrapone had no significant effect on ERK activation in the hippocampus; therefore, glucocorticoids alone do not mediate the molecular effects. Finally, because post-translational modifications of histones are believed to play an important role in the stress response, we examined changes in histone acetylation. We found that, in general, chronic stress decreased K12H4 acetylation, whereas acute stress increased acetylation. These results indicate a molecular mechanism by which chronic stress-induced HPA axis plasticity can lead to neurochemical alterations in the hippocampus that influence reactivity to subsequent stress exposure. This may represent an important site of dysfunction that contributes to stress-induced pathology such as depression, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

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Effect of vasopressin 1b receptor blockade on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal response of chronically stressed rats to a heterotypic stressor

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe-08-0425 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 200 (3) ◽

pp. 285-291 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Francesca Spiga ◽

Louise R Harrison ◽

Cliona P MacSweeney ◽

Fiona J Thomson ◽

Mark Craighead ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Noise ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Hpa Axis ◽

Home Cage ◽

Male Rats ◽

Receptor Blockade ◽

Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal ◽

Corticosterone Secretion ◽

Corticosterone Response ◽

Adrenal Response

Exposure to chronic restraint (CR) modifies the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis response to subsequent acute stressors with adaptation of the response to a homotypic and sensitization of the response to a heterotypic stressor. Since vasopressin (AVP) activity has been reported to change during chronic stress, we investigated whether this was an important factor in HPA facilitation. We therefore tested whether vasopressin 1b receptor (AVPR1B) blockade altered the ACTH and corticosterone response to heterotypic stressors following CR stress. Adult male rats were exposed to CR, single restraint, or were left undisturbed in the home cage. Twenty-four hours after the last restraint, rats were injected with either a AVPR1B antagonist (Org, 30 mg/kg, s.c.) or vehicle (5% mulgofen in saline, 0.2/kg, s.c.) and then exposed to either restraint, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or white noise. CR resulted in the adaptation of the ACTH and corticosterone response to restraint and this effect was not prevented by pretreatment with Org. Although we found no effect of CR on LPS-induced ACTH and corticosterone secretion, both repeated and single episodes of restraint induced the sensitization of the ACTH, but not corticosterone response to acute noise. Pretreatment with Org reduced the exaggerated ACTH response to noise after both single and repeated exposure to restraint.

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Resistin Changes Following Aerobic Exercise and its Relationship With Fertility in Male Rats With Type 2 Diabetes

Quarterly of Horizon of Medical Sciences ◽

10.32598/hms.26.2.3190.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 156-169

Author(s):

Abbas Saremi ◽

◽

Mohammad Parastesh ◽

Leili Mohammadi ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Aerobic Training ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Exercise Group ◽

Treadmill Running ◽

Aerobic Exercise Training ◽

Sperm Parameters ◽

Male Rats

Aims Resistin is secreted by adipose tissue and could be the link between diabetes and infertility. This study aimed to investigate the alteration of resistin following aerobic exercise training in diabetic rats and its possible interaction with sperm parameters. Methods & Materials In this experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats (age: 56 days, weight: 200-250g) were randomly divided equally into three groups of healthy control, diabetic control, and diabetic aerobic exercises. Diabetes was induced with a unique intraperitoneal injection (65 mg/kg body weight) of streptozotocin. Seven days after the injection and after 12 hours of fasting, the animals with blood glucose levels of ≥250 mg/dL were considered diabetic. Seven days after the induction of diabetes, the animals in the exercise group were subjected to progressive aerobic training (treadmill running for 1 h, 27 m/min, 5 d/wk). After 10 weeks of exercise, the sperm quality and resistin concentrations were measured. The obtained data were compared using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) (P<0.05). Findings The induction of diabetes significantly decreased sperm count (P=0.001), motility (P=0.001), viability (P=0.001), and morphology (P=0.01). The sperm parameters, such as count (P=0.03) and viability (P=0.002) were significantly higher in the diabetic exercise group, compared to the diabetic sedentary group. No significant changes were found in resistin levels between diabetic exercise and diabetic sedentary groups (P=0.40). Conclusion The collected results indicated that the 10-week aerobic training regimen improved sperm quality, independent of changes in resistin levels, in type 2 diabetes mellitus rat models.

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Modelling of Chronic Stress in Male Rats Subjected to Prolonged Isolation

10.15688/nsr.jvolsu.2021.1.2 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 12-19

Author(s):

Yulia Ivanova ◽

Mikhail Maltsev ◽

Alexander Kuzubov ◽

Natalya Mohamed-Amin

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behavior ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Behavioral Changes ◽

Male Rats ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Behavioral Tests ◽

Sexual Responses ◽

And Control

Artificially created social isolation in rodents models a form of chronic stress that causes neurodegenerative changes in the brain and subsequent behavioral changes. The aim of this study was to simulate chronic stress in male rats by social isolation and to determine how chronic stress affects the behavioral and sexual responses of rats. During the simulation of chronic stress, rats were divided into two groups: experimental one, where laboratory animals were kept in separate cells for 10 weeks, and control one, where laboratory animals were kept under normal conditions. Subsequently, a clinical examination of each rat, behavioral tests (“Open Field”, “Forced Swimming of Porsolt”, “Raised Cruciate Maze”) and a study of male sexual behavior were carried out to detect changes in behavioral and sexual responses of the animals. The obtained results of behavioral tests and sexual behavior claim marked changes in behavioral and sexual reactions in the experimental group of animals (high emotional reactivity, reduced orientation and research reactions, high sexual activity and increased aggression against females). Thus, the authors conclude on successful modelling of chronic stress through social isolation. This model can be used at the deeper study and development of methods of neuropsychiatric disorders therapy.

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Endogenous Reproductive Hormones and Nocturnal Rhythms in Partner Preference and Sexual Behavior of ATD-Treated Male Rats

Neuroendocrinology ◽

10.1159/000127029 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 396-405 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Julie Bakker ◽

Jan van Ophemert ◽

Marianna A. Timmerman ◽

Frank H. de Jong ◽

Koos Slob

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behavior ◽

Reproductive Hormones ◽

Male Rats ◽

Partner Preference ◽

Treated Male

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Assessment of the Protective Impact of Vitamin E on Sex Hormones and Sperm Parameters of Formaldehyde-treated Male Rats: A Preliminary Investigation

Galen Medical Journal ◽

10.31661/gmj.v6i4.904 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 330-337

Author(s):

Hassan Moladoust ◽

Ebrahim Nasiri ◽

Rouhollah Gazor ◽

Tolue Mahdavi ◽

Reza Ghorbani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin E ◽

Adult Male ◽

Reproductive System ◽

Corn Oil ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Reproductive Hormones ◽

Sperm Parameters ◽

Male Rats ◽

The Impact

Background: Lifestyle factors, including environmental and occupational exposure, have a key role in reproductive health status and may impact fertility. Formaldehyde (FA) is a suspected reproductive toxicant, which may cause significant adverse effects on the reproductive system. This study was aimed at detecting the impact of FA and the possible protective role of vitamin E on the male reproductive system in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control rats, rats treated with vehicle (corn-oil), rats treated with 10 mg/kg/day FA (FAt), and rats treated with FA plus 30 mg/kg/day vitamin E plus vehicle (FAt+ vitamin E) for two weeks. After treatment, sex hormone levels were examined using ELISA. Moreover the count, morphology, and motility of sperm, were observed. Results: The sperm count and the percentage of rapid progressive sperm were significantly decreased in rats in the FAt-treated group compared with those in the control and vehicle-treated groups (p<0.05). Vitamin E treatment significantly improved the parameters examined in the FAt+ vitamin E group (29.85±8.62 vs. 10.04±4.79 for sperm count and 60.50±5.67 vs. 42.19±8.02 for sperm motility). Moreover, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels mildly decreased in the FA exposure group, although the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that FA exposure had a negative impact on sperm parameters and some reproductive hormones in rats and vitamin E attenuated the deleterious impact of FA on the reproductive system of adult male rats. [GMJ.2017;6(4):330-7] DOI: 10.22086/gmj.v6i4.904

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