Effect of kisspeptin-10 on sexual activity in male rats after exposure to restraint stress

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunctions are of high social significance, and their steady growth necessitates the search for new pharmacological targets for correction. Mental stress is a trigger of decreased sexual activity. Previously, the effect of predator presentation stress on sexual motivation of male rats was established, which manifested itself in a decrease in exploratory activity toward female rats in estrus. The neuropeptide kisspeptin regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system and is involved in the modulation of sexual behavior.

AIM: This works aimed to assess the effect of kisspeptin-10 introduced centrally and peripherally on sexual behavior of rats after restraint stress.

METHODS: Male Wistar rats were exposed to restraint stress. To assess sexual behavior, a male rat was placed in a cage with a female rat in estrus. The latency time to approach the female and the number of mounts per female within 3 minutes were recorded.

RESULTS: The latency time for approaching female rats in stressed animals increased by 1.3 times (p < 0.01) compared to intact controls. After intranasal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the latency time decreased by 1.4 times compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and by 1.8 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p < 0.001). After a single intraperitoneal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the latency time decreased by 2 times compared to the control group (p < 0.01) and by 2.6 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p < 0.001). After a course of intranasal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the latency time decreased by 2.4 times compared to the control group (p < 0.01) and by 3 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p < 0.001). After a course of intraperitoneal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the latency time decreased by 2 times (p < 0.05) compared to the control group and by 2.4 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p < 0.01). After a single intraperitoneal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the number of mounts per female increased by 3.3 times compared to the control group (p < 0.001) and by 3 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p < 0.01). After a course of intraperitoneal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the number of mounts per female increased by 3.7 times compared to the control group (p < 0.001) and by 3.3 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Kisspeptin-10 enhances sexual activity in male rats after restraint stress. Intranasal and intraperitoneal drug introduction triggers a reduced latency time of approaching a female rat. After intraperitoneal introduction, the number of mounts per female increases.

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About the authors

Vladanka А. Goltz

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Author for correspondence.
Email: digitalisobscura@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0001-2716-318X
SPIN-code: 2031-2550
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Аndrei А. Lebedev

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: aalebedev-iem@rambler.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0297-0425
SPIN-code: 4998-5204

Dr. Sci. (Biology), Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Evgenii R. Bychkov

Institute of Experimental Medicine; Kirov Military Medical Academy

Email: bychkov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8911-6805
SPIN-code: 9408-0799

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Anastasia P. Perova

Saint Petersburg State University

Email: alpacamr@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0003-2548-8647
SPIN-code: 1058-0174
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Sarng S. Pyurveev

Institute of Experimental Medicine; Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: dr.purveev@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4467-2269
SPIN-code: 5915-9767
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Mariya V. Litvinova

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: litvinova-masha@bk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2924-7475
SPIN-code: 9548-4683
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Аlekber А. Bairamov

Institute of Experimental Medicine; Almazov National Medical Research Centre

Email: alekber@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0673-8722
SPIN-code: 9802-9988

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Аnna G. Pshenichnaya

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: pscanna@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0003-2836-3671
SPIN-code: 1324-9710
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Vladimir V. Rusanovsky

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: rusvv2058@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0432-7946
SPIN-code: 7010-4530

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Artemy R. Islentyev

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: apk.stwrk@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-1809-9611
SPIN-code: 5559-6860
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Аlina D. Yezhova

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: alisha25022004@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0000-2206-0619
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Efimova Vera Оlegovna

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: verusha1810@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0005-3067-8132
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Lada Yu. Skripchak

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: Ladochka.2020@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-3088-2748
SPIN-code: 4718-2513
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Natalia D. Nadbitova

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: natali_805@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2957-226X
SPIN-code: 4153-1270

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Аndrei Yu. Yurov

Institute of Experimental Medicine; Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: ayroot@mail.ru
SPIN-code: 5211-2420
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Petr D. Shabanov

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: pdshabanov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1464-1127
SPIN-code: 8974-7477

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

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2. Fig. 1. Latency time for a male to approach a female. 1, means intact controls; 2, means restraint stress without drug introduction; 3, means restraint stress + kisspeptin-10 intranasally (single introduction); 4, means restraint stress + kisspeptin-10 intraperitoneally (single introduction); 5, means restraint stress + kisspeptin-10 intranasally (5-day introduction course); 6, means restraint stress + kisspeptin-10 intraperitoneally (5-day introduction course). *p < 0.05 relative to intact controls; **p < 0.01 relative to intact controls; ##p < 0.01 relative to group exposed to restraint stress; ###p < 0.001 relative to group exposed to restraint stress.

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3. Fig. 2. Number of mounts per female. 1, means intact controls; 2, means restraint stress without drug introduction; 3, means restraint stress + kisspeptin-10 intranasally (single introduction); 4, means restraint stress + kisspeptin-10 intraperitoneally (single introduction); 5, means restraint stress + kisspeptin-10 intranasally (5-day introduction course); 6, means restraint stress + kisspeptin-10 intraperitoneally (5-day introduction course). ##p < 0.01 relative to animal group exposed to restraint stress; ***p < 0.001 relative to intact controls.

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