The Relation Between the Noise Stress Effects and Neurotransmitters, Sex Hormones Levels in the Male and Female Balb/c Mice

Abstract

Many studies suggest that noise stress could damage many body systems such as nervous and endocrine systems, so the goal of this study was to demonstrate how the levels of neurotransmitters and sex hormones in mature male and female mice are affected by different noise stress exposure durations? In this study, 60 Balb/C mice (males and females) were used. Fifty mice were exposed to 90dB noise stress for 4h/daily and were scarified in different time points; 1,7,14,21, and 28 days while the rest 10mice were not exposed to noise stress and they serve as control. After the end of the experiment, the blood was collected and the serum samples were used to determine neurotransmitters levels, serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NA), and hormones levels included testosterone, estrogen and cortisol levels. The findings showed that neurotransmitters levels were significantly higher in mice exposed to noise stress for 1,8,14, and 21days which was non-significant decrease compared to the control in the 28-day stress group. While the levels of cortisone were continuously rising in the exposed noise stress mice groups with the length of duration, the levels of estrogen in female and testosterone in male were continuously decreasing. Interestingly, the levels of neurotransmitters and cortisol were significantly higher in females than males in all noise stress groups. Additionally, these effects completely differ after 28 days of noise exposure, which needs more future studies to prove the risk of exposure to this type of stress on the body systems.