Organ and Body Weights Changes in Female Wistar Rats Exposed to Different Stressors

Understanding the changes in the absolute organ and body weights serves as the most sensitive indicator of assessing reproductive success and fertility concern. The study examined changes in the organ and body weights of female Wistar rats exposed to different stressors. 168 healthy rats weighing between 150-200 g, aged between 12-14weeks were used and distributed into groups of six rats each. Stress models; restraint, mirrored and intruder paradigm tests were used. The rats were euthanized via cervical dislocation; their ovary, uterus, kidney, liver and brain were carefully isolated and weighed. Data were analyzed for Mean ± SEM, and p-level <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results obtained revealed that the weights of kidney, liver and brain organs of the rats exposed to restraint and intruder stressors were the most affected when compared with control. Findings from the study showed that body weights of the animals were significantly (p<0.05) reduced irrespective of the stressors applied. Exposure of the rats to different periods of 1, 3 and 5 h per day for 1 and 2 weeks caused apparent significant (p<0.05) reduction in body weights in the rats exposed to the different stressors when compared with the control. Similarly, body weights returned to almost the control levels at 3rd week especially in rats exposed to restraint and mirrored stressors while rats exposed to intruder stressor experienced continuous significant (p<0.05) decrease in their body weights. In conclusion, stress-induced effect on organ and body weights is variable and the efficacy in causing morphological changes is dependent on the stressor utilized.