Background/aim
Social isolation is a type of stress that might adversely affect sex cycles in both animals
and humans. The present study was planned to investigate the pituitary–gonadal axis
in the proestrus phase of estrous cycle in adult female rats subjected to social isolation
stress for 8 weeks.
Materials and methods
Twenty Sprague–Dawley adult female rats were divided into two experimental groups:
a control group (n = 10) and a socially isolated group (SI, n = 10). Throughout the
study, all rats were monitored for body weight and food intake. After 8 weeks, rats were
sacrificed in the proestrus phase of estrous cycle. All rats were examined
for final body weight, rectal temperature, hematocrit value, and serum levels of follicle
stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormones, prolactin hormone, 17-b estradiol,
and progesterone in addition to histological examination of the ovaries.
Results
The results of the present study showed that the SI group had significant decrease
in their final body weights and their serum levels of 17-b estradiol and progesterone,
whereas the serum level of prolactin was significantly increased. Histological
examination of SI rat ovaries showed fewer growing ovarian follicles
and numerous atretic ones compared to control rat ovaries.
Conclusion
These findings indicate that social isolation might result in depressed ovarian function
in adult female rats.