ABSTRAKT

We studied effects of chronic stress (30-minute daily immobilization) from the 35-th to 45-th day of life and its combination with androgenization (implantation of testosterone-containing capsules on the 33-th day of life) on the reproductive system of 2.5 month old female rats. The terms of sexual maturation, estrous cycle regularity and structure, blood plasma levels of testosterone, progesterone and androstenedione, as well as ovarian histology were examined. Androgenization resulted in increased level of testosterone in blood plasma and decreased level of androstenedione, development of oligo- or anovulatory state, which is characterized by disorders or discontinuation in estrous cyclicity, abrupt reduction or absence of post ovulary luteal bodies, cysts formation and ovarian interstitial tissue overgrowth. All experimental animals had normal corticosterone level in blood plasma. Except for certain violations of the regularity of the estrous cycle, exposure to stress in rats did not cause significant changes in the reproductive system, and together with androgenization it delayed pubescence, increased the number of ovarian cysts along with attenuation of androgenization-caused negative effects on the sexual cyclicity.