[Influence on pubertal reproductive function in female rats by immune challenge in early life]

To investigate the long-term programming effects on pubertal reproductive function by immunological challenge in early life.

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered by endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) at a dosage of 50 µg/kg and saline intraperitoneally on postnatal day 3 and 5. Body weight was measured weekly. Puberty onset (vaginal opening) and oestrous cyclicity were monitored from postnatal day 30. At the age of 6 weeks, bilateral ovariectomy was performed. The histological and morphological change of the ovaries (the thickness of the theca interna and the number of different kinds of follicles) were observed and the immunoreactivity of the ovarian sympathetic nerve markers (low affinity receptor of nerve growth factor, p75NGFR) was evaluated by immune staining.

Immunological challenge (exposed to LPS) in early life delayed vaginal opening significantly [LPS-treated (40.6 ± 0.7) days versus controls (38.6 ± 0.5) days, P < 0.05], decreased the percentage of normal oestrous cyclicity (LPS-treated 26.1% versus controls 66.8%, P < 0.05), decreased the total number of different types of follicles (primordial follicles: LPS-treated 610 ± 47 versus controls 1181 ± 57, P < 0.05; primary follicles: LPS-treated 624 ± 41 versus controls 960 ± 30, P < 0.05; preantral follicles: LPS-treated 183 ± 16 versus controls 260 ± 14, P < 0.05; antral follicles: LPS-treated 32 ± 4 versus controls 79 ± 7, P < 0.05) and increased the thickness of the theca interna [LPS-treated (15.8 ± 0.4) µm versus controls (11.4 ± 0.3) µm, P < 0.05]. The immunostaining of p75NGFR was obviously enhanced in the LPS-treated ovaries when compared with that of controls (P < 0.05).

Immunological stress during early critical developmental windows could have long dysfunctional effects on the pubertal reproductive function. It delayed puberty onset, reduced the percentage of the normal oestrous cycles, decreased follicles reserve and increased the thickness of the theca interna which might involve the up-regulation of the local ovarian sympathetic nerve activity.