Inhibition of the ACTH Adrenal Response to Stress by Treatment with Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone and Dexamethasone in the Rat

Baumann, J. M.; Girard, J.; Christen, E.; Eberlé, Alex N.; Ruch, W.

doi:10.1159/000180058

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Thus, cortisol levels, being increased by stress, were further elevated by insulin or vasopressin application. In accordance with investigation in other rodents (Baumann et al, 1985;Nicholson et al, 1986;Carnes et al, 1987), dexamethasone treatment resulted in an inhibition of basal as well as stress-stimulated secretion of cortisol.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Dissociation of plasma and urinary steroid values after application of stressors, insulin, vasopressin, ACTH, or dexamethasone in the Mongolian gerbil

Fenske

2009

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes

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The amounts of cortisol and testosterone in the plasma or urine of Mongolian gerbils exposed to stress factors or treated subcutaneously with insulin (2 IU), vasopressin (1 IU), ACTH (6 IU) or dexamethasone (50 micrograms) were determined. Increased plasma cortisol was observed in animals stressed by ether anesthesia or immobilisation (1-4 hours), or treated with insulin, vasopressin or ACTH. Cortisol levels were reduced after dexamethasone administration. Plasma testosterone was elevated in animals stressed by ether anesthesia or handling plus seizure; no other treatment altered testosterone levels. An augmented cortisol excretion, which lasted one day, occurred in gerbils immobilised for one as well as for four hours. A much more prolonged stimulation of cortisol excretion, lasting three days, was seen in animals receiving ACTH or dexamethasone plus ACTH. Testosterone excretion was stimulated by ACTH and dexamethasone plus ACTH; it was not influenced by any other treatment. The present study shows that analysis of circulating steroid levels is the only reliable approach to assess the secretory activity of Mongolian gerbil adrenals or testes. In some experimental conditions (e.g. after stressor application or ACTH treatment) cortisol excretion may be used as an index of adrenal secretory function. In contrast, the striking differences between cortisol values present in plasma and urine of peptide-or dexamethasone-treated gerbils indicate that urinary cortisol does not reflect short-term changes of adrenal function. Similarly, the striking differences of testosterone values in plasma and urine indicate that urinary testosterone monitoring cannot be used to determine the secretory activity of gerbil testes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Dissociation of plasma and urinary steroid values after application of stressors, insulin, vasopressin, ACTH, or dexamethasone in the Mongolian gerbil

Fenske

2009

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes

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“…This activation is, at least partially, counteracted by the nega tive feedback exerted by glucocorticoids. Thus, in the rat, corticosterone secreted from the adrenal cortex acts on the HPA axis to inhibit the secretion of CRF [1][2][3] and ACTH [3][4][5][6][7] through the interaction with specific recep tor sites at different levels of the HPA axis, mainly adeno hypophysis, hypothalamus and higher centers in the cen tral nervous system (CNS).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct Evidence for Chronic Stress-Induced Facilitation of the Adrenocorticotropin Response to a Novel Acute Stressor

et al. 1994

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The ACTH response to CRF and the role of glucocorticoids on the pituitary-adrenal responsiveness to acute stressors after a period of chronic stress were assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats. After chronic immobilization (IMO) an enhanced ACTH response to CRF administration was observed. In another experiment, control and chronic IMO rats were adrenalectomized (ADX) or sham-adrenalectomized (SHAM) and 2 days later killed in resting conditions or after having been subjected to acute IMO or tail-shock for 30 min. Chronic IMO increased basal corticosterone but not adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels in SHAM rats. As expected, ADX increased ACTH levels in all conditions. In response to the novel acute stressor (shock), ACTH levels were drastically dependent on the presence of corticosterone: thus, whereas in SHAM rats chronic IMO reduced the ACTH response to shock, in ADX rats a clear enhancement of the ACTH response to shock was observed in chronic IMO rats. In order to demonstrate that, in our experimental conditions, chronic stress also induces down-regulation of glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus, an additional experiment was done: rats subjected chronically to IMO or administered 5 mg corticosterone (B) were adrenalectomized and killed 20 h later under basal conditions. Both chronic IMO and chronic B administration decreased glucocorticoid type II binding in the hippocampus. From these results, it is concluded that chronic IMO induces facilitation of the ACTH response to novel acute stressors which is uncovered after corticosterone removal.

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“…2). There is some experimental evidence of an age, or maturity dependent difference in the feedback control of glucocorticoids on ACTH secretion (Baumann et al (1985)). Tab.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasma ACTH in diagnosis and control of adrenal disorders

Girard

Eberlé

Baumann

1986

Acta Endocrinologica

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Unstimulated plasma ACTH concentrations remain at or below the detection limit of conventional immunoassays. Grossly elevated ACTH concentrations are diganostic in suspected adrenal insufficiency, remain elevated well above 200 ng/l during substitution therapy and obviate the need of further tests. For the diagnosis of secondary adrenal failure, plasma ACTH, cortisol and 11-desoxycortisol response to a single midnight dose of metyrapone (1.2 g/m2 = 30 mg/kg) discriminates between a normal (morning ACTH above 100 ng/l), diminished (morning ACTH detectable, but below 100 ng/l), and an absent (ACTH below 20 -40 ng/l) ACTH reserve. In congenital adrenal hyperplasia, plasma ACTH concentrations mirror, together with 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, the extent of ACTH suppression. Elevated ACTH concentrations were suppressed by prednisolone (25 %), dexamethasone (2 % of the hydrocortisone dose) or by addition of cyproterone acetate (100 mg/m2/day). Using selective venous catheterisation in clinically and biochemically proven Cushing's syndromes, a pituitary adenoma could be identified and localized in 6 of 8 patients by measuring ACTH concentrations in the left and right petrosal sinus before and after stimulation with corticotrophin releasing hormone.

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Inhibition of the ACTH Adrenal Response to Stress by Treatment with Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone and Dexamethasone in the Rat

Cited by 8 publications

References 8 publications

Dissociation of plasma and urinary steroid values after application of stressors, insulin, vasopressin, ACTH, or dexamethasone in the Mongolian gerbil

Dissociation of plasma and urinary steroid values after application of stressors, insulin, vasopressin, ACTH, or dexamethasone in the Mongolian gerbil

Direct Evidence for Chronic Stress-Induced Facilitation of the Adrenocorticotropin Response to a Novel Acute Stressor

Plasma ACTH in diagnosis and control of adrenal disorders

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