Postmenopausal Status Exacerbates Stress-Related Neurological Disorders in Rats

Aims: This study was aimed at assessing the effects of social instability stress (SIS) and immobilization stress (IS) in postmenopausal (PM) conditions. Postmenopause is a physiological state often associated with mild neuronal disorders (NDs) such as anxiety and irritability. The aging of the worldwide population, coupled with multiple stressors, can lead to significant public health concerns, including severe NDs.

Place and Duration of Study: Tests and analyses were carried out within the confines of the Laboratory of Animal Physiology of the University of Yaoundé I (Cameroon) for 3 months.

Study Design: To induce PM syndrome, an 84-day ovariectomized Wistar rat model was used.

Methodology: Random sampling of 4 groups of 6 rats, each aged between 8 and 10 weeks, was used. SIS and IS were induced during PM installation. Behavioral status, biochemical, and histopathological analyses were carried out.

Results: SIS combined with IS exacerbates NDs induced by low estrogen levels. Furthermore, ovariectomized stressed rats are more depressed and anxious than the control. They presented severe hippocampal inflammation, oxidative stress, and memory impairment owing to low levels of ACh and reduced neuronal expression in the hippocampus. Overall, PM status makes NDs linked to stress worse in rats.

Conclusion: Stress promotes oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal death, leading to greater affective and cognition disorders when estrogen levels are low. Thus, there is a need to focus on the management of stress during menopausal life.