Plasma testosterone concentrations in male rats during short and long-term stress stimulation.

Plasma testosterone concentrations were analysed in 14 male rats submitted to short-term and prolonged stress stimulation, and the results were compared with those obtained from a control group of seven rats not submitted to the corresponding experimental stress stimuli. Increased levels of circulating testosterone were recorded during the short term stress stimulus. As compared with the control group, plasma testosterone concentrations were reduced after prolonged stress stimulation for 10 days. The increased stress stimulation, that the animals subjected to short- and long-term standardized stress stimuli were subjected to, compared to the corresponding stress of the animals in the control group, was reflected in an increased concentration of catecholamines in arterial blood.