Brain Oxytocin Inhibits Basal and Stress-Induced Activity of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Male and Female Rats: Partial Action Within the Paraventricular Nucleus

ABSTRACT Male and female rats bred repeatedly develop arteriosclerosis spontaneously. Current information indicates that stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in association with the active, repeated breeding may be responsible for the increased adrenocortical steroid production which would account for the abnormal lipid, carbohydrate and protein metabolism and arteriosclerosis observed in these animals. Arteriosclerotic breeder rats and non-arteriosclerotic virgin rats were given chronic injections of cortisone. The arteriosclerotic animals showed the most significant catabolic effects due to overdose with steroid, i. e., loss in body weight, disuse atrophy of the adrenal gland, reduced serum corticosterone levels, thymus gland involution, myocardial and renal changes. The excess glucocorticoid caused an acceleration of the usual pattern of development of the arterial disease and increased severity of the pre-existing arteriosclerosis. The excess endogenous steroid did not induce arterial damage in previously non-arteriosclerotic animals. It is believed that the increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in repeatedly bred rats conditions the arterial wall towards derangement of connective tissue ground substance and elements and the development of arteriosclerosis, i. e., a hormonal basis for the pathogenesis of this model of cardiovascular disease.

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Adrenal-dependent and -independent stress-induced Per1 mRNA in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and prefrontal cortex of male and female rats

Stress ◽

10.1080/10253890.2017.1404571 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 69-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Lauren E. Chun ◽

Jenny Christensen ◽

Elizabeth R. Woodruff ◽

Sarah J. Morton ◽

Laura R. Hinds ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Paraventricular Nucleus ◽

Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus ◽

Female Rats ◽

Male And Female ◽

Male And Female Rats

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THE PITUITARY AND ADRENAL RESPONSES TO ADMINISTRATION OF OESTRIOL IN GONADECTOMIZED RATS

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0380050 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 50-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

N. E. Borglin ◽

L. Bjersing

Keyword(s):

Pituitary Gland ◽

Adrenal Cortex ◽

Clinical Experience ◽

Uterine Cervix ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Physiological Significance ◽

Female Rats ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Male And Female ◽

Male And Female Rats

ABSTRACT Oestriol (oestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,16α,17β-triol) is a weakly oestrogenic substance which, however, in contrast to what was formerly believed, is of physiological significance. Its effect is localized largely to the uterine cervix and vagina. Clinical experience argues both for and against an effect on the pituitary gland. This investigation is concerned with the morphological changes in the pituitary gland and adrenal cortex of gonadectomized male and female rats after the injection of oestriol. It was found that oestriol has the same type of action on these glands as other oestrogens, but under the experimental conditions used, this effect proved much weaker than that produced by oestradiol (oestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17β-diol).

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