Stress and Behaviorally Induced Reproductive Dysfunction in Primates

Abstract

Both acute and chronic psychological and social stresses can impair reproductive hormone secretion in a variety of nonhuman primate species. This impairment can be subtle, consisting of a mild suppression in reproductive hormone secretion, or dramatic, underlying a complete suppression of fertility and reproductive behavior. Although group mean responses to various stresses can be measured, it is clear that there are marked differences in the response of the reproductive axis to these stresses among individual animals. Factors that contribute to the variability in the response of the reproductive axis include the type of stress, the magnitude and duration of stress, the perception of the stress by the individual, the social status of the individual, the concurrent level of aggressive behavior displayed by the individual, seasonal cues, and the prior level of activity within the reproductive axis. During some stresses, activation of the adrenal axis, endogenous opioid pathways, increased prolactin release, and changes in sensitivity to gonadal steroid hormone feedback appear to play a role in mediating the effects of behaviorally induced stresses on the reproductive axis. However, a great deal more work is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying impairment of the reproductive axis by most psychological and social stresses, as well as the mechanisms underlying differences in susceptibility to stress-induced impairment of reproductive function within individuals.

Effects of Endogenous Steroid Hormone Levels on Annual Survival in Cliff Swallows

“…High levels of corticosterone over an extended period are known to reduce or impair reproductive function among captive individuals in various taxa (e.g., Moore and Miller 1984, Sapolsky 1985, Orr and Mann 1992, DeNardo and Licht 1993, Knapp and Moore 1995, Cameron 1997, Fox et al 1997, may impair cognitive abilities (Kitaysky et al 2003), and are thought to suppress immune function in some cases (Grossman 1990, Fowles et al 1993, Boonstra et al 2001, Saino et al 2003. High concentrations of testosterone may also have a suppressive effect on the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to deleterious pathogens and parasites (e.g., HORMONES AND SURVIVAL IN CLIFF SWALLOWS PLATE.…”

Impact of social environment on variation in menstrual cycle length in captive female olive baboons (Papio anubis)

“…In addition to individual, occupational, health, and energetic influences on menstrual cycles and fertility, social constraints can act to impair reproductive function (Abbott 1992, Packer et al 1995 ranging from a moderate diminution of reproductive hormone secretion to a complete suppression of fertility (Cameron 1997).…”

Novel restraint system for neuroendocrine studies of socially living common marmoset monkeys

“…Furthermore, we have already demonstrated that our restraint and hypothalamic push-pull perfusion system does not inhibit hypothalamic GnRH release in female marmosets (Abbott et al 1997, in contrast to the inhibitory contributions made by other restraint systems towards the release of pituitary LH in female marmosets (O'Byrne et al 1989), rhesus monkeys (Norman et al 1994), sheep and rats (Kam et al 2000). It is still not clear, however, whether activation of the HPA axis by restraint is causally involved in suppression of reproductive function (Norman 1994, Cameron 1997. Thus, our novel restraint system appears to be appropriate for investigating the neuroendocrine regulation of female reproduction, but not adrenal function, in common marmosets.…”