PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 10320009

Oxytocin causes a sustained decrease in plasma levels of corticosterone in rats.

M Petersson·A L Hulting·K Uvnäs-Moberg
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate how oxytocin (OXT) influences plasma levels of ACTH and corticosterone in rats. A single injection of OXT (1 mg/kg s.c.) caused a transient increase in ACTH and corticosterone. In contrast, 1 mg/kg OXT (but not 10-100 microg/kg) decreased corticosterone, but not ACTH levels, 6 h after the injection. OXT (1 mg/kg s.c.) administered once a day for 5 days, decreased cortiocosterone for 10 days after the last injection. An acute challenge with ACTH increased corticosterone to the same level in rats pretreated with OXT and controls. Dexamethasone decreased corticosterone to equal levels in both groups. Thus, OXT seems to be able to stimulate as well as to inhibit the activity within the HPA-axis within a short- and a long-term perspective, respectively.

Explore related subjects

Adrenocorticotropic HormoneAnimalsCorticosteroneDexamethasoneGlucocorticoidsInjections, SubcutaneousMaleOxytocinRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyReference ValuesJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

M Petersson, A L Hulting, K Uvnäs-Moberg. 1999-04-02. Oxytocin causes a sustained decrease in plasma levels of corticosterone in rats.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00159-7

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2001

NMR studies of adrenocorticotropin hormone peptides in sodium dodecylsulfate and dodecylphosphocholine micelles: proline isomerism and interactions of the peptides with micelles.

Three adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) fragments (1-10, 1-24, and 11-24) have been studied in water and in sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelles by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The trans-cis isomerism at all three proline sites (at positions 12, 19, and 24) was found in the 11-24 segment of the peptide. The population of the cis isomers changes with the environment of the peptide. Specifically, the presence of the DPC micelle does not affect the trans-cis equilibrium in the 11-24 segment from that in water. In contrast, the presence of the SDS micelles decreases the population of the cis isomer at Pro(24), but increases its population at Pro(12) and Pro(19). The effect of SDS micelles on the trans-cis equilibrium at these proline sites was discussed. Intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) correlations between the ACTH peptides and the micelles were observed. These correlations occurred only in the 1-10 segment of the peptides, and the hydrophobic side chains contributed most to the intermolecular NOE. The intermolecular NOE pattern corroborates the suggestion that the 1-10 segment of the ACTH peptides bind to these micelles via a surface-binding mode, with most of the interactions coming from the insertion of the hydrophobic side chains.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2001

Abnormalities in response to vasopressin infusion in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Several neuroendocrine studies have suggested hypoactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in chronic fatigue syndrome. One possible determinant of this neuroendocrine abnormality, as well as the primary symptom of fatigue, is reduced hypothalamic secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Because CRH and vasopressin secreted from the hypothalamus act synergistically at the pituitary to activate ACTH secretion, the ACTH response to peripheral infusion of vasopressin can provide an indirect measure of hypothalamic CRH secretion. We measured the ACTH and cortisol response to a one hour infusion of arginine vasopressin in 19 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and 19 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome had a reduced ACTH response to the vasopressin infusion and a more rapid cortisol response to the infusion. These results provide further evidence of reduced hypothalamic CRH secretion in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2001

Neuroendocrine responses to experimentally-induced psychological stress in healthy humans.

Previous studies of hormonal and neurophysiological changes in response to psychological stress in humans have produced contrasting findings due to differing experimental procedures and consistent individual variability. Habituation effects, which influence physiological coping in response to exposure to repeated stress, need to be investigated more extensively. In the present study, twenty healthy male subjects were each exposed twice to the same psychosocial stressor (Stroop Color Word Interference task, public speaking and mental arithmetic in front of an audience) during a first session (day 1) and a second session (day 8). Plasma concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (EPI), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT) and prolactin (PRL) were measured immediately before the beginning of the tests and at their end, 30 min later, on both experimental days. For the total group, NE, EPI, ACTH, and CORT levels were significantly elevated, and PRL levels were significantly decreased, after stress exposure on day 1. ACTH and CORT levels showed less significant increases after stress on day 8. In contrast, NE and EPI responses to stress were not significantly blunted, and PRL response was unchanged on day 8. Cluster analysis revealed two groups of subjects who showed different habituation patterns for ACTH and CORT. The first group (n=12) of subjects showed a reduction of ACTH and CORT responses to stress on day 8. The subjects of the second group (n=8) displayed a significant increase of ACTH and cortisol in response to stress on day 8, without any habituation effect. These results increase the evidence concerning the involvement of the HPA axis and catecholamines in response to psychological stress, and suggest that possible individual differences in the neuroendocrine coping mechanisms may affect mood regulation and the state of health.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗