Altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxia
Hypobaric hypoxia is a stressful condition known to decrease fertility both in humans and animals. However, the mechanism by which the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis is altered remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of chronic intermittent and continuous expo...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
IMR Press
2021-09-01
|
Series: | Journal of Integrative Neuroscience |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://jin.imrpress.com/fileup/1757-448X/PDF/1632962198461-2139018011.pdf |
_version_ | 1828490229549367296 |
---|---|
author | Antonela Romina Terrizzi María Pilar Martinez Javier Fernandez-Solari |
author_facet | Antonela Romina Terrizzi María Pilar Martinez Javier Fernandez-Solari |
author_sort | Antonela Romina Terrizzi |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Hypobaric hypoxia is a stressful condition known to decrease fertility both in
humans and animals. However, the mechanism by which the
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis is altered remains unknown. The aim of the
present study was to analyze the effects of chronic intermittent and continuous
exposure to hypoxia on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis regulation in male
rats. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were assigned to one of the following three
groups: control group; chronic intermittent hypoxia: subjected to 600 mbar for 18
h/d five days a week; and chronic continuous hypoxia: subjected to 600 mbar for 23.5
hours/day seven days a week, for 30 days. Plasma luteinizing hormone and
testosterone concentration, hypothalamic GnRh, Kiss1 and Rfrp3
mRNA levels and PGE2 content were determined. Levels of Rfrp3, a
negative regulator of GnRH and LH release, were higher in intermittently exposed
animals than in controls. Levels of Kiss1, a neuropeptide that stimulates the
release of GnRH only increased in animals exposed to continuous hypoxia. Plasma
luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentrations and body weight were lower in rats subjected
to intermittent hypoxia as compared to the remaining groups. GnRh mRNA
levels as well as PGE2 content remained unchanged in all groups. Taken
together, results suggest that besides the well documented
direct effects of hypoxia on the testes, infertility observed in male rats
exposed to hypoxia may also be due to overexpression of negative regulators of
GnRH and luteinizing hormone release. Intermittent, rather than continuous, to hypoxia exposure would seem to be more detrimental to
fertility. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-11T10:39:54Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-0d4896c8666e44b9ad801066ef536e09 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1757-448X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-11T10:39:54Z |
publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
publisher | IMR Press |
record_format | Article |
series | Journal of Integrative Neuroscience |
spelling | doaj.art-0d4896c8666e44b9ad801066ef536e092022-12-22T01:10:36ZengIMR PressJournal of Integrative Neuroscience1757-448X2021-09-0120365165710.31083/j.jin20030691632962198461-2139018011Altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxiaAntonela Romina Terrizzi0María Pilar Martinez1Javier Fernandez-Solari2Cátedra de Fisiología, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1122 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaCátedra de Fisiología, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1122 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaCátedra de Fisiología, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1122 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaHypobaric hypoxia is a stressful condition known to decrease fertility both in humans and animals. However, the mechanism by which the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis is altered remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of chronic intermittent and continuous exposure to hypoxia on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis regulation in male rats. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were assigned to one of the following three groups: control group; chronic intermittent hypoxia: subjected to 600 mbar for 18 h/d five days a week; and chronic continuous hypoxia: subjected to 600 mbar for 23.5 hours/day seven days a week, for 30 days. Plasma luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentration, hypothalamic GnRh, Kiss1 and Rfrp3 mRNA levels and PGE2 content were determined. Levels of Rfrp3, a negative regulator of GnRH and LH release, were higher in intermittently exposed animals than in controls. Levels of Kiss1, a neuropeptide that stimulates the release of GnRH only increased in animals exposed to continuous hypoxia. Plasma luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentrations and body weight were lower in rats subjected to intermittent hypoxia as compared to the remaining groups. GnRh mRNA levels as well as PGE2 content remained unchanged in all groups. Taken together, results suggest that besides the well documented direct effects of hypoxia on the testes, infertility observed in male rats exposed to hypoxia may also be due to overexpression of negative regulators of GnRH and luteinizing hormone release. Intermittent, rather than continuous, to hypoxia exposure would seem to be more detrimental to fertility.https://jin.imrpress.com/fileup/1757-448X/PDF/1632962198461-2139018011.pdfhypoxiahypothalamic peptideshypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis |
spellingShingle | Antonela Romina Terrizzi María Pilar Martinez Javier Fernandez-Solari Altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxia Journal of Integrative Neuroscience hypoxia hypothalamic peptides hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis |
title | Altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxia |
title_full | Altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxia |
title_fullStr | Altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxia |
title_full_unstemmed | Altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxia |
title_short | Altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxia |
title_sort | altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxia |
topic | hypoxia hypothalamic peptides hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis |
url | https://jin.imrpress.com/fileup/1757-448X/PDF/1632962198461-2139018011.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv | AT antonelarominaterrizzi alteredproductionofreproductiveneuropeptidesinratssubjectedtochronicintermittenthypoxia AT mariapilarmartinez alteredproductionofreproductiveneuropeptidesinratssubjectedtochronicintermittenthypoxia AT javierfernandezsolari alteredproductionofreproductiveneuropeptidesinratssubjectedtochronicintermittenthypoxia |