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Biomedical subjects

N Conforti

Publications and source records attributed to N Conforti.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

The role of the medial septal nucleus in mediating adrenocortical responses to somatosensory stimulation.

In view of the demonstrated involvement of the hippocampus in the mediation of adrenocortical responses following sciatic nerve stimulation, the role of the septum and the preoptic area in the transmission of this response was investigated. Changes in plasma corticosterone following ether stress and photic acoustic, or sciatic nerve stimulation were studied in intact rats and in animals with lesions in the medial septal nucleus and the preoptic area. The response to ether stress and to photic and acoustic stimulation was normal in these animals. However, the adrenocortical response to sciatic nerve stimulation was partially reduced in the rats with lesions in the superior, but not in the inferior preoptic area, and it was completely blocked in those with medial septal lesions. Our previous and present experiments indicate that the ventral hippocampus, the fimbria, the septum, and anterior hypothalamic afferents mediate the adrenocortical response to somatosensory stimulation.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1980

Participation of the dorsal hippocampus in the glucocorticoid feedback effect on adrenocortical activity.

The feedback effect of systemically administered dexamethasone on basal plasma corticosterone levels and on adrenocortical responses to ether plus skin incision stress were studied in intact rats and in animals with bilateral dorsal or ventral hippocampectomy or fimbria section. It was found that in rats with ventral hippocampectomy or fimbria section, the degree of the feedback was similar to that in intact rats. However, in animals with dorsal hippocampectomy, the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on basal and stress-induced adrenocortical responses was significantly reduced. These results taken together with previous observations, that section of the dorsal fornix has a similar effect, suggest that dexamethasone exerts its influence on the brain and that the dorsal hippocampal formation participates in the feedback regulation of pituitary-adrenal function. It cannot be excluded, however, that dexamethasone may exert its influence on the pituitary, and the effect observed may be summation of dexamethasone action on the pituitary plus lack of hippocampal input.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1980

Effects of systemically administered indomethacin on basal and stress-induced ACTH and corticosterone secretion in the male rat.

The effects of the prostaglandin (PG) synthetase inhibitor indomethacin (IM) on basal and stress-induced activity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal (HHA) axis were investigated. IM was systemically administered to adult male rats in a single injection (5 mg/100 g BW s.c.). The animals were sacrificed 24 h later, either under basal conditions, or following 30 min exposure to environmental temperature of 36 degrees C. Serum ACTH and corticosterone (CS) were determined by RIA and CBG, respectively, and hypothalamic and adenohypophyseal PGE2 and total PGE concentrations were estimated by RIA. IM treatment resulted in elevated basal levels of both hormones. Heat exposure led to elevated serum ACTH and CS concentrations in both vehicle- and IM-treated groups, with the ACTH heat response in IM-treated animals being greater than that observed in controls. PGE2, and PGE1 plus PGE2 concentrations were markedly reduced in both hypothalamic and adenohypophyseal tissues, following IM treatment. This study demonstrates that simultaneous reductions in hypothalamic and adenohypophyseal PG concentrations are compatible with hyperactivity of the HHA axis.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1980

Adrenocortical responses in dexamethasone-treated rats with septal, preoptic and combined hypothalamic lesions.

To elucidate the role of limbic structures in the negative feedback regulation of corticoids of adrenocortical function, the effect of dexamethasone on adrenocortical responses to ether stress was studied in intact and lesioned rats. In animals with septal and preoptic lesions the degree of the feedback of dexamethasone on adrenocortical responses was similar to that in intact rats. In animals with bilateral medial forebrain bundle lesions the feedback influence was enhanced, but this was reversed by a subsequent posterior hypothalamic deafferentation, which if produced separately diminished the feedback effect. This would indicate that though the septum and preoptic area do not play a significant role in the feedback of dexamethasone, there is a mutual interaction between closely situated facilitatory and inhibitory systems in the feedback control of adrenal function.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1979

PRL and ACTH secretion following acute heat exposure, in intact and in hypothalamic deafferentated male rats.

Adult male rats, intact or bearing complete, anterior or posterior hypothalamic deafferentiations (CHD, AHD AND PHD, respectively) were acutely exposed to environmental temperature of 36 degrees C, and serum PRL and ACTH concentrations were determined by RIA. In intact animals, heat exposure resulted in elevated serum PRL and ACTH levels. None of the deafferentations affected basal serum PRL concentrations, whereas those of ACTH were elevated in both CHD and AHD, but not in PHD groups, as compared to intact controls. The PRL heat response was completely absent in CHD, attenuated in AHD, and delayed in PHD animals, and the ACTH heat response was absent in all three groups. These results demonstrate (1) that acute exposure to elevated environmental temperature stimulates secretion of PRL and of ACTH; (2) that this stimulation is carried out by diverse neural pathways; and, (3) that hypothalamic modulation of the secretion of PRL and ACTH is effected by independent mechanisms.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1979

Neuroendocrine function in long-term pinealectomized male rats, following visual and audiogenic stress.

Intact, sham-pinealectomized and pinealectomized adult male rats were maintained for 10 weeks on a light : dark (L : D) cycle of 12 : 12,with lights on at 6 a.m. Subsequently they were acutely exposed to (1) visual or (2) audiogenic stress for periods of 2 or 30 min, immediately following which they were decapitated and serum ACTH, corticosterone, FHS, LH, PRL and TSH concentrations were determined. Serum ACTH and corticosterone levels were similar in control and operated groups following both types of stresses. Serum FSH and LH concentrations were elevated in pinealectomized animals as compared to controls, following 30 min of exposure to visual stimulation; no difference in these parameters was observed between the groups following audiogenic stress. Serum PRL levels tended to be lower in pinealectomized animals following both stresses. Serum TSH concentrations following visual stimulation were similar in all groups, but audiogenic stimulation resulted in elevated TSH levels as compared to controls. These data demonstrate that the pineal gland plays an integral role in the responses of the parvicellular neuroendocrine axes to acute neurogenic stress. Possible molecular bases for this involvement are discussed.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1979

TSH secretion following acute heat exposure, in intact and in hypothalamic deafferentated male rats.

Male rats, intact (N) or with complete, anterior, or posterior hypothalamic deafferentations (CHD, AHD, or PHD, respectively), were acutely exposed to an environmental temperature of 36 degrees C, and serum TSH concentrations were determined by RIA. In intact animals, 30 min of exposure to elevated environmental temperature resulted in decreased serum TSH levels. In both CHD and AHD animals, basal serum TSH concentrations were reduced, and heat exposure produced further decreases. In the PHD group, no significant difference in resting serum TSH concentrations was observed, as compared to intacts. Exposure of these animals to 36 degrees C was followed by a reduction in this parameter, similar to that in intact rats. Exposure of intact animals to 3 nonthermal stress modalities produced no changes in serum TSH concentrations. These experiments demonstrate (1) that the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-thyroid axis responds specifically to heat exposure; (2) that extrahypothalamic centers which innervate the medial basal hypothalamus from the rostral direction maintain basal activity of the axis; and (3) that humoral factors, possibly extrahypothalamic thyrotrophin-releasing hormone carried to the median eminence via the CSF, may also mediate both basal and heat-induced secretory activity of the thyrotrophs.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1977

cAMP in temperature- and ADH-regulating centers after thermal stress.

cAMP concentrations in temperature-regulating sites of the brain and plasma osmolality were measured after exposure of male rats to 36 degrees C and 37-42% rh. for 10, 20, or 30 min. Plasma osmolality was affected by none of the heat exposures. In both the preoptic area and the posterior medial hypothalamus, cAMP concentrations were increased compared to controls, after 10, 20 and 30 min of heat exposure. In the supraoptic-paraventricular nuclei, neither 10 nor 20 min of exposure resulted in augmented cAMP concentrations; but after 30 min of heat exposure, cAMP levels in these nuclei were significantly greater than in controls. Neurohypophysial cAMP concentrations were increased after both 10 and 30 min of exposure. Cerebral cortical cAMP concentrations were not affected by thermal stress. It is concluded that cAMP is involved in the neural mechanisms which are brought into play to regulate body temperature during acute heat exposure. The significance of this involvement and its relation to the overall temperature-regulating mechanisms of the body are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Adrenocortical responses to olfactory stimulation in rats with partial hypothalamic deafferentations and lesions.

Previous experiments from this laboratory using complete hypothalamic deafferentation have demonstrated that the adrenocortical discharge following olfactory stimulation is essentially mediated by neural pathways. In order to identify the neural afferents and the hypothalamic areas involved, this response was studied in rats with anterior (AD) and posterior (PD) partial hypothalamic deafferentations as well as in animals with bilateral lesions in the ventrolateral medial forebrain bundle (VMFB) and the gemini region (GR) in the hypothalamus. While rats with PD had a normal adrenocortical response to odor stimulation, this was completely inhibited in animals with AD and partially reduced in VMFB and GR lesioned rats. These data would indicate that the adrenocortical response following olfactory stimulation is mediated by anterior afferents to the hypothalamus and involves the VMFB and GR.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Body temperature and adrenal function in heat-exposed hypothalamic disconnected rats.

The effects of hypothalamic disconnection on body temperature and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal activity following acute and repeated exposures to heat were studied. Intact male rats, or animals with complete posterior or anterior hypothalamic disconnection, were exposed to a temperature of 36 degrees C and a relative humidity of 35-45%. In the complete posterior and anterior hypothalamic disconnected rats the basal Tre was higher than that of the intact rats; the rise in Tre following heat exposure was lower in the operated rats than in the intact animals. All the experimental animals, except for those with anterior hypothalamic disconnection, showed a significant inhibition of corticosterone release on exposure to heat for 30 min, but no inhibition was observed in any of the disconnected rats when they were exposed to heat for 120 min. These results suggest that the main stimulus for ACTH release, during the first 30 min of heat exposure, is mediated by a neural input through the posteroir hypothalamus and this is followed by a nerural and/or humoral mechanism which enables the animals to increase their corticosterone secretion.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1976

Effects of dorsal fornix section and hippocampectomy on adrenocortical responses to sensory stimulation in the rat.

With the purpose of identifying the neural structures which are involved in the mediation of the adrenocortical responses to photic, acoustic and sciatic nerve stimulation, experiments were conducted on male rats with bilateral section of the dorsal fornix and dorsal or ventral hippocampectomies. The basal corticosterone levels in these animals were not significantly different from those in controls. Stimulation of the 3 sensory modalities produced normal adrenocortical responses in rats with fornix section. The hippocampectomies had no effect or only a marginal effect on the response to ether stress and to photic and acoustic stimulation; however, the adrenal response to sciatic stimulation was very significantly reduced. The data demonstrate the participation of the hippocampus in the transmission of somatosensory responses which promote adrenocortical activity. The efferent connections of the hippocampus to the hypothalamus which are involved in this mechanism are discussed.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1976

Feedback effects of dexamethasone on adrenocortical responses in rats with fornix section.

To investigate the sites of the negative feedback of corticoids in the regulation of ACTH secretion, the effect of 10 mug of dexamethasone on adrenocortical responses to ether stress was studied in intact and fornix-sectioned rats. Dexamethasone pretreatment in both groups depressed significantly both the basal and stress plasma corticosterone levels. However, in rats with fornix section the amount of depression of the adrenocortical response was much smaller than in intact animals, when compared to the non-treated group. These data would inicate that extrahypothalamic regions play a role in the action of glucocorticoids in the feedback control of pituitary-adrenal function and that the hippocampus participates in this mechaism.

Adrenal Cortex↗