ABSTRACT
The effect of two types of stress [immobilization and ether anesthesia] on the serum levels of leptin, glucose, sodium and potassium was investigated in two groups of male albino rats [young rats aged 3 months and old rats aged 24 months]. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups [each of ten rats]: Control non- stressed rats, rats subjected to immobilization and rats subjected to stress of ether anesthesia. Blood samples were collected retro- orbitally at 9-11 a.m. from overnight fasted rats and the investigated parameters were studied after 0, 5, 30 and 120 minutes from the onset of stress. It was suggested that increased leptin associated with stress means that leptin is not only an adipostatic hormone, whose function is to prevent obesity but also a stress related hormone. The process of aging and the intercurrent pathologic processes gradually eliminate the physiological reserves which are present in the younger individuals [as shown by decreased percentage of change of leptin and glucose in old rats]. This showed that old people are more vulnerable to dangers of stress than the younger persons