An increase in the sympathetic tone in the rat ovary induces a polycystic ovary (PCOS-like) phenotype. No information exists about its impact on fertility. In contrast, increased follicular development and improved fertility in rats were found after pharmacological inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, which increased intraovarian acetylcholine (ACh). Now, we studied the impact of sympathetic stress, followed by a recovery period without stress, on the cholinergic and noradrenergic systems of the rat ovary and on fertility. To activate ovarian sympathetic nerves, female Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to cold stress (4°C/3 h day for 28 days; first period), followed by a 28-day period without cold stress (second period). No changes in estrous cyclicity during the first period was found. At the end of this period, ovarian levels of NA and ACh were increased. Morphometric analysis showed lower numbers of secondary and antral follicles, enhanced follicular atresia and fewer corpora lutea. Plasma progesterone was lower and testosterone was higher than that in controls. At end of the second period, ovarian ACh levels had returned to control levels, but NA levels remained elevated. The second period was also characterized by the presence of cystic follicles in the ovary, by elevated plasma testosterone and estradiol levels, while progesterone levels were decreased. Estrous cyclicity and ovulation during that period were irregular and fertility decreased. Thus, cold stress initially activated both ovarian noradrenergic and cholinergic system. After stress, the ovary did not fully recover and activation of the noradrenergic system persisted and correlated with cystic ovarian morphology and decreased fertility.

Chronic cold stress affects ovarian morphology and impairs fertility in rats. It causes an ovarian polycystic ovary (PCOS)‐like phenotype, which resembles PCOS in women. The mechanism of cold stress action involves increased ovarian noradrenaline (NA) levels, which remain elevated after cessation of cold stress. By contrast, ovarian acetylcholine (ACh) levels are only transiently elevated and returned to control levels after a 28‐day post stress period. Because ACh can exert trophic actions in the ovary, we hypothesised that a sustained elevation of ovarian ACh levels by intraovarian exposure to the ACh‐esterase blocker huperzine‐A (Hup‐A) may interfere with cold stress‐induced ovarian changes. This possibility was examined in female Sprague‐Dawley rats exposed to cold stress (4°C for 3 h day‐1 for 28 days), followed by a 28‐day period without stress. To elevate ACh, in a second group Hup‐A was delivered into the ovary of cold stress‐exposed rats. A third group was not exposed to cold stress. As expected, cold stress elevated ovarian NA, reduced the number of corpora lutea and increased the number of follicular cysts. It increased plasma testosterone and oestradiol but decreased plasma levels of progesterone. In the Hup‐A group, ovarian levels of both, NA and ACh, were elevated, there were fewer cysts and normal testosterone and oestradiol plasma levels were found. However, progesterone levels remained low. Most likely, low progesterone was associated with impaired mating behaviour and low pregnancy rate. We propose that elevated intraovarian levels of ACh are involved in the rescue of ovarian function, opening a target to control ovarian diseases affecting follicular development.

The exposure to sympathetic stress during the entire period of gestation (4 °C/3 h/day) strongly affects the postnatal reproductive performance of the first generation of female offspring and their fertility capacity. The aim of this work was to determine whether this exposure to sympathetic stress affects the reproductive capacity of the next three generations of female offspring as adults. Adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were mated with males of proven fertility. We studied the reproductive capacity of the second, third, and fourth generations of female offspring (the percentage of pregnancy and the number and weight of female offspring). The estrus cycle activity of the progenies was studied, and a morphological analysis of the ovaries was carried out to study the follicular population. The second generation had a lower number of pups per litter and a 20% decrease in fertile capacity. The estrus cycle activity of the third generation decreased even more, and they had a 50% decrease in their fertile capacity, and their ovaries presented polycystic morphology. The fourth generation however, recovered their reproductive capacity but not the amount of newborns pups. Most probably, the chronic intrauterine exposure to the sympathetic stress programs the female gonads to be stressed in a stressful environment; since the fourth generation was the first born with no direct exposure to stress during development, it opens studies on intrauterine factors affecting early follicular development.

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