title: Changes in corticosterone levels and sperm functional activity by chronic stress in rats.
abstract: Corticosterone levels and epididymal sperm functional activity have been studied in rats subjected to immobilization stress (A: 12 days) or variable chronic stress (B: 24 days; C: 32 days and D: 32 days plus 28 days without stress). Plasma corticosterone levels were significantly enhanced in B and C groups. Body and testicular weight significantly decreased in C and D groups. A decrease in viability or percentage of progressive epididymal spermatozoa was detected in C and D groups. Responses of spermatozoa to hypoosmotic shock remained unaltered in all groups. Results suggest that sustained increase in activity of the hypothalamo-adenohypophyseal-adrenal cortical system alters the activity of the hypothalamo-adenohypophyseal-testicular axis.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, República Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiol de Cuneo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vincenti
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003345:Corticosterone