Abstract: Chronic intermittent prenatal stress alters sexual development in male rats

Keywords: Prenatal stress; noradrenaline; vas deferens.
Stress is a common poblem in our society, but there are not enough information about its effect over the descendants. The gestational period is a critical period of organ development; any disturbance may cause permanent changes, visualized in the adult life. For example, exposure to stress during the gestational period alters brain development and may increase susceptibility to subsequent cognitive or neuropsychiatric disorders. The vas deferens, that transport sperm from the epididymis in anticipation of ejaculation, is supplied with a dense sympathetic innervation, and stimulation of the nerves results in a biphasic mechanical response that consists of an initial rapid twitch, followed by a maintained contraction; the first phase of the response is mediated mainly by ATP acting on postjunctional P2X receptors, whereas the second phase is mediated mainly by noradrenaline (NA) acting on α1-adrenoceptors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the adrenal-gonadal function in male offsprings of stressed rats along the gestational period. We used a stress model in pregnant rats that mimic the laboral stress (4°C for 3 h/day, five days a week), that trigger the sympathetic response, but does not affect basal plasma levels of corticosterone. We measured NA at 4, 33, 39 and 60 postnatal day in male offsprings of stressed rats, that correspond to neonatal, prepuber, puber and adult period. We detected an increment in NA of adrenal glands and vas deferens over that of unstressed mother sons that correlates with the sexual development, with a maximum at 39 day. Also, we detected an increment in the expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-β hydroxylase (DBH) both enzymes related to NA synthesis. These results suggest that chronic prenatal stress produces an alteration in the adrenal-gonadal axis in the offspring of stressed rats, that may modify the reproductive capacity in the adult life. Functional analysis are needed to confirm this conclusions.

Introduction

My name is Jonathan Martínez, I’m a Biochemist from the University of Santiago of Chile(USACH). This is my second year in the Biochemistry PhD program at the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Faculty, University of Chile. Now I’m finishing my second research unit, wich is focused on the effect of stress over the reproductive organs.
We think (neurobiochemical lab) that the offsprings (male or female) of pregnant women exposed to stress may epigenetically inherit some alterations. My goal is to explain these alterations and their inheritance mechanism. I hope that this course will help me to improve my written and oral English, which is very necessary and useful in my area.
Also, I’m part of the Asociación Nacional de Investigadores en postgrado (ANIP, National Asociation of Postgraduate Researchers), an organization that works towards the improvement of the postgraduate programs in Chile.

Best regards

Jonathan Martínez

Intro

Hi!
My name is Jonathan Martínez, I’m a Biochemist from USACH. I’m in my 2nd year of the Biochemistry PhD program at the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Faculty. Now I’m ending my 2nd research unit, focused on the effect of stress over the reproductive organs.
We think (neurobiochemical lab) that the offsprings (male or female) of pregnant woman exposed to stress may probably inherit some alterations epigenetically. My goal is to explain that alteration and its mechanism of inheritance. I hope that this course will help me to improve my written and oral English, which is very necessary and useful in my area.
Also, I’m part of ANIP, an organization that works towards the improvement of the postgraduate programs in Chile.

Take care