Prenatal stress decreases sperm quality, mature follicles and fertility in rats

Abstract

Prenatal stress disrupts reproductive function in females and males. These alterations have primarily been related to maternal corticosteroid fetal programming due to the stress response, affecting the fetus and causing long-lasting effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of prenatal stress on male and female fertility. Dams were exposed to stress by immersion in cold water twice a day for the last week of gestation (days 15–21). In the adulthood, sperm quality, mature follicles, sexual hormones and fertility were assessed in female and male progeny. The results in prenatally stressed females showed lower body weight, longer estrous cycles, lower estradiol and progesterone, and lower number of pups. In prenatally stressed males, lower body weight, increased testicular cell death, as well as decreased testosterone levels, sperm quality, and fertility were observed. Aside from these effects, corticosterone levels in prenatally stressed males and females increased. These results show that prenatal stress can markedly influence infertility in adult female and male progeny. Abbreviations: 3β-HSD: 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; CRH: corticotropin releasing hormone; DEX: dexamethasone; ERα: estrogen receptor alpha; H-E: hematoxylin-eosine; HPA: hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal; KISS: Kisspeptin; ORW: ovarian relative weight; PBS: phosphates; PS: prenatally stressed; PRW: prostatic relative weight; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SRW: seminal relative weight; TdT: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase; TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick-end labelling; TRW: testicular relative weight; URW: uterine relative weight.