چکیده (انگلیسی):

Objective: To evaluate the effects of chronic stress on testosterone hormone level and
germ cells apoptosis in testes and the inhibitory role of glucocorticoid receptor
antagonist, RU486.
Methods: Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups
(n = 6): control; stress; RU486; stress/RU486. Animals in RU486 and stress/RU486
subjected to subcutaneous injections of 2.5 mg RU486/kg 1 h before stress session.
Rats were submitted to chronic restraint stress (1 h daily for 12 consecutive days)
whereas control animals were not subjected to stress. Serum testosterone assay was
performed and the occurrence of DNA fragmentation in the testis sections was
examined using TUNEL staining.
Results: Chronic restraint stress significantly induced a decrease in serum testosterone
level with increase in apoptosis in spermatogonia. Systemic administration of RU486
significantly restored serum testosterone levels and attenuates stress-induced apoptosis in
spermatogonia.
Conclusion: The restraint stress-induced change in serum testosterone levels and seminiferous
tubules apoptosis closely associated with the glucocorticoid receptor.