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Castration attenuates prolactin response but potentiates ACTH response to conditioned stress in the rat.
- Source :
-
The American journal of physiology [Am J Physiol] 1995 Oct; Vol. 269 (4 Pt 2), pp. R856-63. - Publication Year :
- 1995
-
Abstract
- The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of circulating androgens on neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral responses to stress. The effects of conditioned stress were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats that were intact, gonadectomized, or gonadectomized and treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Intact animals received sham surgeries. Animals were stressed 3 wk after surgery. The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) response to conditioned stress was significantly potentiated (P < 0.01) in gonadectomized males compared with sham-operated and gonadectomized DHT-treated animals. In stressed rats, plasma corticosterone levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in gonadectomized animals compared with DHT-treated castrates. The prolactin response to stress was decreased (P < 0.01) in gonadectomized males compared with sham-operated and gonadectomized DHT-treated rats. The stress-induced increases in plasma renin activity and concentration were not altered in gonadectomized or in gonadectomized DHT-treated animals. Nonstressed DHT-treated castrates exhibited more "fearlike" behavior compared with nonstressed sham-operated and gonadectomized animals. However, conditioned stress produced the same behavioral effects in all treatment groups. The results demonstrate that the ACTH/corticosterone, prolactin, and behavioral responses to a psychological stressor are differentially regulated by circulating androgens.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Behavior, Animal
Corticosterone blood
Defecation
Dihydrotestosterone pharmacology
Electroshock
Male
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Renin blood
Stress, Physiological physiopathology
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone blood
Conditioning, Psychological
Orchiectomy
Prolactin blood
Stress, Physiological blood
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0002-9513
- Volume :
- 269
- Issue :
- 4 Pt 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The American journal of physiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 7485603
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.1995.269.4.R856