Abstract :
This study examined maternal and offspring reproductive hormone levels following prenatal stress exposure and the chances of nature of stress reversal responses in female Wistar rats. 72 Wistar rats weighing between 160-200g and aged between 12-14weeks was used for the phase I of the study while 18 offspring from stressed parents were utilized for phase II respectively. Three (3) stress models were used to induce stress in the animals. Serum LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone was assayed using ELISA analyzer. Data collected were analyzed for Mean±SEM and one way ANOVA statistic while Fisher’s LSD was used for post hoc test at p-value <0.05 level of significant. Exposure to the stressors had variable effects on serum levels of the reproductive hormones. Findings from the study revealed that variations in the level of the hormones examined depended on the nature of stressor used and the specific hormone concerned. For LH, exposure to the restraint and mirror stressors significantly increased (p<0.05) the level beyond the control level but the intruder stressor caused a decrease (p<0.05). For FSH, the only significant (p<0.05) alteration in the level of the hormone was observed when mirror stressor was used to induce stress in the rats. It caused an increase in the level of FSH beyond the control level. With respect to estrogen and progesterone, exposure of the female Wistar rats to the respective stressors studied could not produce significant alteration in serum levels of the hormones. Serum LH and FSH levels of the offspring of intruder stressor stressed-parents were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the level in the control rats. The level of serum estrogen and progesterone of the offspring was significantly (p<0.05) decreased. Withdrawal of stressor from stressed rats caused the reversal of serum levels of LH and FSH towards their respective levels in the unstressed (control) rats. In conclusion, exposure to different stressors induces stress of different intensity in the Wistar rats and this may explains the variable responses of the pregnant Wistar rats to different stressors. In all, continued exposure of the rats to stressful condition has the tendency of compromising the integrity of reproductive hormones and chances of fertility.