Biochemical, Hormonal, and Body Weight Changes in Chronic Stressed Young and Middle Aged Sprague Dawely Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

Abstract

Background: the literature is controversial about influence of stress on body weight. Chronic stress can activate both orexogenic and anorexigenic pathways with subsequent increase or decrease in body weight. Mechanisms behind these changes still need further evaluations.  Aim and objectives: in the present study effect of different chronic stressors on body weight of young and middle aged rats and associated changes in leptin level have been investigated. Results: Chronic stress both (noise and restraint stress) resulted in a significant decrease in weight gain in young rats but significant weight loss in middle aged rats. There was significant elevation of blood glucose level and lipid profile in all stressed groups as compared with control groups. Serum level of insulin, leptin, and HOMA index were significantly elevated in noise stress group but significantly reduced in restraint stress groups. Conclusion: chronic stress caused significant body weight changes that differ according to age of animal associated with metabolic changes that could result in many forms of metabolic syndrome as a result of impaired lipid and glucose metabolism.

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