FUNCTIONAL AND METABOLIC REMODELING OF THE PANCREAS UNDER CHRONIC IMMOBILIZATION STRESS: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FROM RAT MODELS

Abstract

Chronic stress is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to metabolic disorders, endocrine dysfunction, and organ remodeling. The pancreas plays a central role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis through its endocrine and exocrine activities; however, its adaptive and maladaptive responses to prolonged stress remain insufficiently understood. This experimental study aimed to evaluate functional, biochemical, and metabolic alterations of the pancreas under chronic immobilization stress in rats. A total of 110 Wistar rats were subjected to immobilization stress, followed by assessment of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, HOMA-IR index, cortisol, adrenaline, and pancreatic enzymes (lipase, elastase, protease). The results demonstrated significant hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and dysregulation of digestive enzyme activity. These findings highlight the pancreas as a vulnerable target of stress-induced metabolic remodeling and emphasize the importance of early metabolic monitoring in chronic stress conditions.