Estrogen-dependent effects on behavior, lipid-profile, and glycemic index of ovariectomized rats subjected to chronic restraint stress.
Stress has been shown to negatively affect the immune system, alter the body's metabolism, and play a strong role in the development of mood disorders. These effects are mainly driven through the release of hormones from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). Additionally, women are more likely to be affected by stress due to the estrogen fluctuation associated with their menstrual cycle. This study aims to evaluate the effect of chronic restraint stress, applied for 30 days, and estrogen replacement on behavior, glucose level, and the lipid profile of ovariectomized rats. Our results suggest that stress increases sweet food consumption in OVX females treated with estradiol (E2), but reduces consumption in animals not treated. Furthermore, stress increases locomotor activity and anxiety as assessed by the Open Field test and in the Elevated Plus Maze. Similarly, our results suggest that E2 increases anxiety in female rats under the same behavioral tests. In addition, stress reduces glucose and TC levels. Moreover, stress increase TG levels in the presence of E2 and decrease in its absence, as well as the estradiol increase TG levels in stressed groups and reduced in non-stressed groups. Our data suggest an important interaction between stress and estrogen, showing that hormonal status can induce changes in the animal's response to stress.
Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo 93352-000, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Neurociências, Instituto de Pesquisas Biomédicas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga 6690, Porto Alegre 90160-090, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: caroline.silva@pucrs.br.
Caroline Calice
CC
da Silva
Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo 93352-000, RS, Brazil; Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Ramiro Barcelos 2600, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil.
Camilla
C
Lazzaretti
Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo 93352-000, RS, Brazil; Instituto Cenecista de Ensino Superior de Santo Ângelo - IESA, Rua Dr, João Augusto Rodrigues 471, Santo Ângelo 98801-015, RS, Brazil.
Tiago
T
Fontanive
Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo 93352-000, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Cardiologia Molecular e Celular, Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul Rua Princesa Isabel 395, Porto Alegre 90620-001, RS, Brazil.
Daniela Ravizzoni
DR
Dartora
Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Neural Transplant and Neurobehavior Program, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, United States.
Brian
B
Bauereis
Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas e de Alimentos, Biquímica Universidade Federal de Pelotas - UFPeL, Campus Capão do Leão S/N, Prédio 29 sala 303 Capão do Leão 96010-900, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: ggamaro@yahoo.com.br.
Giovana Duzzo
GD
Gamaro
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D038321:Glycemic Index / Q000187:drug effects*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D004967:Estrogens; D004958:Estradiol
Behavior; Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; Estradiol; Ovariectomy; Stress