Repeated Moderate Stress Stimulates the Production of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEAS) and Reduces Corticosteroid Imbalance in Old Macaca Mulatta

Abstract

Young (6-8 years) and old (21-30 years) Macaca mulatta females were subjected to gentle immobilization (2 h daily at 15.00) for 10 days. Blood specimens were collected before the exposure and 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 min and 24 h after the beginning of exposure on days 1, 3, and 10. The adrenocortical reaction to stress was maximum on day 1 in all animals. The increase of cortisol (F) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations in young monkeys decreased on days 3 and 10, DHEAS drop being less pronounced in comparison with F, as a result of which F/DHEAS molar concentration ratio changed negligibly. In old monkeys the basal DHEAS levels were lower, while the F/DHEAS ratio was higher than in young animals. Repeated immobilizations inhibited F elevation on day 3, caused no changes in DHEAS reaction, led to increase of basal DHEAS levels and to a reduction of F/DHEAS ratio on days 2, 3, 4, 10, 11. Hence, chronic moderate stress stimulated the production of DHEAS and reduced the corticosteroid imbalance in old monkeys.

Environmental, biological, and social factors influencing fecal adrenal steroid concentrations in female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

“…In nonhuman primates, Goncharova et al [] found an increased cortisol/DHEAS ratio in depressed rhesus monkeys. A recent study also demonstrated that chronic moderate stress stimulated the production of DHEAS and reduced corticosteroid imbalance in old rhesus monkeys [Goncharova et al, ]. We suggest that initially, the body's response to stress is to increase production of both GC and DHEAS.…”

“…Another adrenal hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated version (DHEAS) have been the focus of investigation as stress markers in humans [Du et al, ] and nonhuman primates [Goncharova et al, ; Maninger et al, ]. In mice, DHEA has been suggested to act as an anti‐stressor [Hu et al, ].…”

“…Some studies have revealed that DHEA and DHEAS increased memory [Flood & Roberts, ; Vallee et al, ] and enhanced the immune system [Khorram et al, ]. Increases in serum DHEAS concentrations have been observed in stressed rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ) [Goncharova et al, ; Maninger et al, ], and elevated serum DHEAS levels have been found in aggressive rhesus monkeys [Goncharova et al, ]. The relationship between DHEAS and cortisol has been used as an index to measure stress [Goodyer et al, ].…”

Back to nature: herbal treatment, environmental enrichment, and social play can protect against unpredictable chronic stress in Long-Evans rats (Rattus norvegicus)

“…Therefore, in the effort to improve our ability to detect functional changes related to environmental stimuli, several authors have recommended the utility of exploring proportions, as opposed to individual values, of interconnected biological responses to specific systems, such as the HPA axis (Dhabhar, 2014;McEwen, 2018;Lambert et al, 2020;. Although in this study we did not investigate the mechanism of actions able to explain this relationship, thus limiting considerably our ability to further speculate, previous works have revealed that DHEA can enhance neuroprotection by decreasing glucocorticoidinduced apoptosis in various key brain areas, including the amygdala and hippocampus, and to promoting neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (Maninger et al, 2009;Morgan et al, 2009;Goncharova et al, 2012). Therefore, these mechanisms could be the basis of the enhanced negative feedback Fig.…”

Immunomodulatory Effects of Stress and Environmental Enrichment in Long–Evans Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

“…6,7,14 Physiologic resilience, defined as the ability of the organism to adapt to allostatic loads without permanent negative consequences, 35 has been associated with an enhanced negative feedback system regulating stress neurochemicals, as well as a form of cognitive reappraisal of stressful events. 21 In particular, DHEA is released in parallel with glucocorticoids (including corticosterone) during physical stress, 22 and has been associated with buffering against the negative effects of chronic stress. 40 Potentially related to the enhanced emotional resilience we found in the current study is that DHEA can act centrally to decrease glucocorticoid-induced neuronal death in the hippocampus and to promote neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.…”