Sexual dimorphism in basal and post stress parameters of neuro-endocrine-immune complex, metabolome, electrocardiogram, and gastric mucosa at rats

Introduction and aim. Previously, we found significant associations between sex index and a number of parameters of the neuro-endocrine-immune complex and metabolome. Therefore, the next goal was a detailed analysis of sexual dimorphism in these parameters in baseline and post stress situations. Material and methods. The experiment conducted on the same 18 males and 20 females rats Wistar line. 10 animals remained intact and other rats after a week of tap water (n=10) or phytoadaptogen “Balm Truskavets’” (n=18) administration were exposed to water-immersion and restraint stress (WIRS). The next day after stressing, endocrine, immune and metabolic parameters as well as ECG and damage to gastric mucosa was recorded. Results. By the method of discriminant analysis was selected 23 variables (4 endocrine, 6 immune, 9 metabolic as well as 4 markers of damage to gastric mucosa and myocardium) whose constellation is characteristic for each group. The distance between the centroids of the major discriminant root of intact females and males as a measure of sexual dimorphism is 16.2 units. Acute stress increases it in control rats to 23.4 units, and in pretreated with phytoadaptogen - up to 29.4 units. Acute stress increases the severity of sexual dimorphism also in relation to variables, information about which is condensed in the minor root - from 0.99 to 2.29 units, while preventive use of phytoadaptogen limits it to 1.63 units. Conclusion. In intact rats, significant sex differences were found for a number of endocrine, immune, and metabolic variables, which increase under the influence of acute stress per se, and to an even greater extent against the background of preventive use of a phytoadaptogen.