Developmental Profiles of Hormonal and Metabolic Parameters in Male Rats Selected for Catatonic Type of Response

Abstract

Catatonia is a psychopathological syndrome which manifests itself clinically mainly as motor disorders (dyskinesia). Currently, catatonia is believed to be associated with such human psychic conditions as schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and depression. Despite high incidence, catatonia remains poorly studied, especially with respect to hormonal and metabolic consequences. Modeling catatonic responses on laboratory animals and subsequent analysis of their relationship with expression of important physiological characters (including hormonal and metabolic ones) allow better insight into associative links between psychic and physiological functions of an organism. This work aimed to analyze the parameters of lipid metabolism and testicular steroidogenesis during the neonatal (days 1, 7, 10 and 14), pubertal (7 weeks) and definitive (12 weeks) periods of ontogeny in male rats selected for the catatonic type of response—GC strain recognized as a model of human schizophrenia and depression. During the perinatal developmental period, which is critical for the formation of neuroendocrine regulation, male rats exhibited an increased secretion of androgens (mainly testosterone) required for masculinization of brain structures and some peripheral organs including the reproductive and musculoskeletal systems. In GC male rats, the perinatal testosterone peak was found to shift towards later periods (compared to Wistar male rats) being paralleled by increased serum levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol. During the period of sexual maturation, adult male rats also exhibited differences in the testicular production of testosterone and in lipid levels between the GC and Wistar strains. Throughout the ontogenetic periods studied, GC male rats had a lower body and testicular weight than Wistar rats. The data obtained indicate that genetically determined neuropathological responses of an organism are coupled to the destabilization of the hormonal and metabolic systems.