8. Light and dark

Adrenal Axis ◽

The Brain ◽

Many of the body’s rhythms reflect the circadian cycle, but how do they interact? ‘Light and dark’ describes a network of systems involving the senses, parts of the brain, the activation and inactivation of genes, biochemical reactions, and cellular responses, all coordinated by complex hormonal cycles. Melatonin, a hormone from the pineal gland, tracks darkness: concentrations are high at night and low during the day. Melatonin cycles affect reproduction and many other physiological changes in animals and it can also slow the division of cancer cells. The circadian connection to the important hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the hormone cortisol is also explained.

A Fall in Plasma Free Fatty Acid (FFA) Level Activates the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Independent of Plasma Glucose: Evidence for Brain Sensing of Circulating FFA

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2012-1330 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 153 (8) ◽

pp. 3587-3592 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Young Taek Oh ◽

Ki-Sook Oh ◽

Insug Kang ◽

Jang H. Youn

Keyword(s):

Plasma Glucose ◽

Plasma Corticosterone ◽

Plasma Acth ◽

Adrenal Axis ◽

Adenosine Receptor Agonist ◽

Plasma Ffa ◽

The Brain ◽

The brain responds to a fall in blood glucose by activating neuroendocrine mechanisms for its restoration. It is unclear whether the brain also responds to a fall in plasma free fatty acids (FFA) to activate mechanisms for its restoration. We examined whether lowering plasma FFA increases plasma corticosterone or catecholamine levels and, if so, whether the brain is involved in these responses. Plasma FFA levels were lowered in rats with three independent antilipolytic agents: nicotinic acid (NA), insulin, and the A1 adenosine receptor agonist SDZ WAG 994 with plasma glucose clamped at basal levels. Lowering plasma FFA with these agents all increased plasma corticosterone, but not catecholamine, within 1 h, accompanied by increases in plasma ACTH. These increases in ACTH or corticosterone were abolished when falls in plasma FFA were prevented by Intralipid during NA or insulin infusion. In addition, the NA-induced increases in plasma ACTH were completely prevented by administration of SSR149415, an arginine vasopressin receptor antagonist, demonstrating that the hypothalamus is involved in these responses. Taken together, the present data suggest that the brain may sense a fall in plasma FFA levels and activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to increase plasma ACTH and corticosterone, which would help restore FFA levels. Thus, the brain may be involved in the sensing and control of circulating FFA levels.

Circumventricular Organs: Gateways to the Brain Role Of Circumventricular Organs In Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine-Induced Activation Of The Hypothalamic- Pituitary-Adrenal Axis

Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology ◽

10.1046/j.1440-1681.2001.03490.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 28 (7) ◽

pp. 581-589 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Kathryn M Buller

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Cytokine ◽

Circumventricular Organs ◽

Adrenal Axis ◽

The Brain ◽

Exposure to a maternal n-3 fatty acid-deficient diet during the brain development enhance the activity and dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses to stress in rat offspring later in life

Psychoneuroendocrinology ◽

10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.07.018 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 107 ◽

pp. 7

Author(s):

Yu-Ju Hsieh ◽

Hui-Min Su

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Brain Development ◽

Deficient Diet ◽

Rat Offspring ◽

Adrenal Axis ◽

The Brain ◽

Stressing the Brain: The Immune System, Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Survivors

Annals of the American Thoracic Society ◽

10.1513/annalsats.201703-203ed ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 839-841 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Brian J. Anderson ◽

Mark E. Mikkelsen

Keyword(s):

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Immune System ◽

Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Respiratory Distress ◽

Distress Syndrome ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Adrenal Axis ◽

The Brain ◽

ATAT1 is essential for regulation of homeostasis-retaining cellular responses in corticotrophs along hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Cell and Tissue Research ◽

10.1007/s00441-017-2654-4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 370 (1) ◽

pp. 169-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Takashi Nakakura ◽

Takeshi Suzuki ◽

Seiji Torii ◽

Anshin Asano-Hoshino ◽

Yoko Nekooki-Machida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cellular Responses ◽

Adrenal Axis ◽

The developmental neuroendocrinology of reproduction and adaptation: lessons from animal research

Fiziolohichnyĭ zhurnal ◽

10.15407/fz67.03.054 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 54-74

Author(s):

A.G. Reznikov ◽

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behavior ◽

Endocrine Disruptors ◽

Stress Reactivity ◽

Sex Differentiation ◽

Animal Research ◽

Developing Brain ◽

Adrenal Axis ◽

The Brain ◽

In order to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishing Department of Endocrinology of Reproduction and Adaptation at the V.P. Komisarenko Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism (Kyiv, Ukraine), the results of animal research in the field of developmental neuroendocrinology of reproduction and adaptation in early ontogenesis are reviewed in the article. Special attitude is paid to sex differentiation of the brain and developmental programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Presented are reprogramming effects of perinatal steroids, stress, some drugs, and chemical endocrine disruptors on the developing brain. Phenomenology and neurochemical mechanisms underlying hormone-neurotransmitter imprinting of morphology of the hypothalamus, sexual behavior, reproductive and endocrine functions, and stress reactivity are under discussion. The results of the studies could contribute to prenatal prevention of neuroendocrine and behavioral disorders.