Plasma glucocorticoid elevation and desynchronization of the estrous cycle following unpredictable stress in the rat

Irina Pollard*, Barbara M. White, J. R. Bassett, K. D. Cairncross

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    59 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Exposure of female Wistar rats to a signalled unpredictable 5-day stress regimen induced extreme plasma corticosterone elevation at all four stages of the estrous cycle. The corticosterone level at proestrus was significantly higher than at the other three stages of the cycle in both control and stressed groups. This rise in plasma corticosterone became evident only in late proestrus. It was observed that the estrous cycles of 50% of the rats became desynchronized over the 5-day stress period; a steroid hormone imbalance is suggested as a possible factor contributing to this desynchrony.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)103-108
    Number of pages6
    JournalBehavioral Biology
    Volume14
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1975

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