Early-life exposure to omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid results in gonadal-regression and elevated stress levels in pubertal male rat

Abstract

Corticosterone decreases hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in stressful situations as well as when nutritional factors are modulated. The effect of in-utero exposure to omega-9 fatty acid on the gonadal hormones were compared with corticosterone in pubertal male rats. Pregnant rats were distributed on a random basis into five groups of five rats each as follows: F0C: the control group was administered 1ml/kg of olive oil; F0EXBM was administered 1000mg/kg of oleic acid for 7days before mating; F0GD1-7 was administered 1000mg/kg of oleic acid from gestation day (GD)1-7; F0GD8-15 was administered 1000mg/kg of oleic acid from GD8-15. At puberty, hormonal analysis was carried out. Testicular prolactin, testosterone, folliclestimulating and luteinizing hormone levels were decreased while corticosterone level was increased. Since corticosterone levels may adversely affect the male reproductive system, omega-9 fatty acid should be considered as a possible contributing factor in any decline of male fertility rates.

Keywords

• omega-9
• corticosterone
• testosterone
• prolactin