Effect of Chronic Immobilization Stress on some selected Physiological, Biochemical and Lipid Parameters in Wistar Albino Rats

The stress response is a natural reaction by the body, against potentially harmful stimuli to enhance the chance for survival. Persistent activation of the chronic stress response can cause changes to homeostatic mechanisms. Immobilization/restraint stress is an easy and convenient method to induce both psychological and physical stress. Wistar strain adult albino rats were divided into two groups as non stressed group (n = 10) and stressed group (n = 10). The stressed groups were exposed to 60 days of chronic immobilization stress. At the end of the sixty day the animals were anaesthetized and blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture. The blood samples of both the groups were analyzed for selected biochemical and lipid parameters. The results were analyzed statistically by using student‘t test. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Our present results showed a significant increase in the various organ weights and a significant decrease in the food intake and body weight. All the biochemical parameters [(serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), blood sugar, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum lipid profile (cholesterol, serum triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) ] were significantly increased in the stressed group when compared to the non stressed group. The serum high-density lipoproteins (HDL) level did not show any statistically significant changes. The present data indicate that chronic immobilization stress causes the significant alterations in the physiological, biochemical and lipid parameters. Further the study also confirms the shift of oxidants and antioxidant balance during chronic stress.