Sex Differences in Metabolic Responses to Chronic Immobilization Stress in Rats

Bahaa El-Dein, Ienass Mohamed; Mohamed, Fatma Ahmed; Ahmed, Mona Ahmed; Soliman, Nevine Bahaa El-Dein; Lasheen, Noha Nooh; Abou-Bakr, Doaa Ahmed

doi:10.21608/besps.2019.18674.1036

Sex Differences in Metabolic Responses to Chronic Immobilization Stress in Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Physiology department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

² Physiology department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

³ Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/besps.2019.18674.1036

Abstract

Background: Responses to stress could range from homeostatic variations to life-threatening effects. Gender is accompanied by variations in oxidative stress that are implicated in the development of metabolic diseases. Females were found to be less susceptible to oxidative stress.
Aim: to clarify the differences in metabolic responses to chronic immobilization stress in both rat sexes, and to elucidate the possible underlying mechanism.
Methods: 40 adult albino rats of both sexes were divided into 2 main groups: control and stressed groups, each was subdivided into male and female groups. Stressed groups were exposed to immobilization for 4 weeks. All rats were subjected to estimation of body mass index percentage change (BMI%), visceral fat weight (VFW), glycemic parameters, lipid profile, plasma insulin, leptin, sex hormones, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and nitrite. HOMA-B and HOMA-IR were calculated, Caspase-3 was assessed in pancreas by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Stressed male rats showed lower BMI%, VFW, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, higher glucose output by kidneys, lower glucose uptake by diaphragm, HOMA-B, plasma insulin, testosterone and TAC, with higher plasma estrogen and MDA levels compared to control male group. Compared to control females, stressed females exhibited lower VFW, hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, lower plasma TAC and HOMA-B, with higher nitrite and sex hormones. Compared to stressed males, stressed females showed higher BMI%, plasma TAC and estrogen, but lower glucose output by kidneys, dyslipidemia and testosterone.
Conclusion: Chronic immobilization stress imposes greater metabolic derangement in males than in females. The altered sex hormones and lowered antioxidants could be contributory mechanisms.

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