ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the effects of immobilization stress on the ovarian follicle count
Study Design: It was laboratory based randomized control trial
Place and Duration of Study: Anatomy Department, Army Medical College Rawalpindi, in collaboration with National Institute of Health [NIH], Islamabad, from April to May 2014
Material and Method: Study comprised of 20 adult female mice [BALBc strain] weighing 25-27 gms on first day of estrous cycle. They were divided into two equal groups of 10 mice each. Group A, taken as control, was kept in normal environment of animal house for one month. Group B was given immobilization stress by keeping them in wire mesh restrainers locally fabricated consisting of 10 compartments. Animals were dissected after one month. Size, shape, color and weight of the right ovary were observed. Ovary was processed, embedded and stained for histological study. Primary, secondary and tertiary follicles were counted. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis. Independent sample's t test and chi square test was applied
Results: The primary, secondary and tertiary follicular count was significantly decreased in the ovary of experimental Group B
Conclusion: Immobilization stress reduces the number of ovarian follicles