DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Stress is a prevalent factor in our daily lives and is affecting the reproductive system too. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of chronic alternating stress on two generation of rats by evaluating the corticosterone and estradiol levels. Methods: One hundred and thirty-six healthy wistar albino rats 11 weeks old were used in this experimental case-control study. They were distributed into case and control parent groups after assaying for baseline parameters. Case parents were given three weeks of chronic alternating stress while the control parents were not given any stress. Following mating within respective groups the offspring were placed into 5 groups each. One group was assayed at 5 weeks without any stress, the other was given 3 weeks of stress and  assayed at 8 weeks, the third group was given stress at the age of 5 and 11 weeks, one group was given stress only at 11 weeks of  age. There were two control groups which were offsprings that did not receive any stress and were assayed at the ages of 8 weeks and 11 weeks. Blood sera were assayed for corticosterone and estradiol using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Techinique. In the offspring generation behavioural tests were done and analysed. Results: The rats given early life stress had raised corticosterone levels and decreased estradiol levels shown by significant p-values. Conclusion: The early life stressed rats did not fare well  as compared to rats given repeated stress. 
Pak J Physiol 2025;21(3):41–45, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i3.1864