Acute stress induction downregulates RHOX-5 gene expression causing altered fertility indices in MALE Wistar rats

Objective: Stress has been implicated in the onset and
development of various diseases and conditions including cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, obesity and infertility. The effects of stress on fertility were studied to elucidate possible mechanisms of stress-induced infertility.
Methods: Stress was induced using the flowerpot technique. Plasma concentration of fertility hormones, inflammatory and oxidative markers, sperm profile, histological studies and molecular studies were carried out in selected tissues from the study and control groups. Statistical analysis was carried out using the GraphPad Prism 8.0.1 version. Results were presented as Mean±SEM. The Student t-test was used to compare the means obtained; and p-values lower than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: Plasma concentration of testosterone, percentage of progressively motile sperm cells, percentage of normal sperm cells and relative expression of Rhox-5 gene were significantly decreased, while the C-reactive protein concentration was significantly increased in the stressed group when compared with the control group.
Conclusions: Stress reduces fertility through suppressed fertility hormone secretion and reduced genetic expression of the relevant genes, causing poor- quality spermatogenesis in male Wistar rats.