JOE Society for Endocrinology Archive
HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Journal of Endocrinology (1998) 158, 285-293       DOI: 10.1677/joe.0.1580285
© 1998 Society for Endocrinology
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (41)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Douglas, A.
Right arrow Articles by Neumann, I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Douglas, A.
Right arrow Articles by Neumann, I.
Journal of Endocrinology, Vol 158, Issue 2, 285-293
Copyright © 1998 by Society for Endocrinology

Articles

The role of endogenous opioids in neurohypophysial and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis hormone secretory responses to stress in pregnant rats

AJ Douglas, HA Johnstone, A Wigger, R Landgraf, JA Russell, and ID Neumann


Endogenous opioid regulation of neurohypophysial and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormone secretion in response to forced swimming (90 s in deep water at 19 degrees C) was investigated in virgin and 21-day-pregnant rats. There was no difference in basal plasma oxytocin concentrations between pregnant and virgin rats, but the opioid antagonist, naloxone, increased basal oxytocin secretion in the pregnant rats. Forced swimming increased oxytocin secretion similarly in pregnant and virgin rats, and this response was enhanced by naloxone. In pregnant rats naloxone had a greater effect (by 3.1-fold) than in virgins, showing stronger endogenous opioid restraint of an enhanced oxytocin secretory response to stress in pregnancy. Vasopressin secretion was not increased with forced swimming in virgin or pregnant rats, and naloxone had no effect. ACTH and corticosterone secretion in response to forced swimming was attenuated in pregnant rats compared to virgin rats, measured at 5 min. Naloxone had no effect on basal plasma ACTH or corticosterone concentration, but it reduced ACTH secretion in virgin rats 5 min after forced swimming; in pregnant rats naloxone had no such effect. Naloxone removed the pregnancy-related attenuation in corticosterone secretion measured at 5 min after forced swimming. Fifteen minutes after forced swimming, plasma corticosterone concentrations were not different between groups. In the late-pregnant rats, the increases in plasma ACTH and corticosterone induced by forced swimming were significantly prolonged compared to virgins. The results show that endogenous opioid inhibition emerges in pregnancy to restrict the responses of oxytocin neurones to a stressor. In contrast, the endogenous opioid enhancement of mechanisms regulating HPA axis secretory responses in virgin rats is not evident during pregnancy.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
D. A. Slattery and I. D. Neumann
No stress please! Mechanisms of stress hyporesponsiveness of the maternal brain
J. Physiol., January 15, 2008; 586(2): 377 - 385.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
A. J. Grippo, B. S. Cushing, and C. S. Carter
Depression-Like Behavior and Stressor-Induced Neuroendocrine Activation in Female Prairie Voles Exposed to Chronic Social Isolation
Psychosom Med, February 1, 2007; 69(2): 149 - 157.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
P. J. Brunton, J. Bales, and J. A. Russell
Neuroendocrine Stress But Not Feeding Responses to Centrally Administered Neuropeptide Y Are Suppressed in Pregnant Rats
Endocrinology, August 1, 2006; 147(8): 3737 - 3745.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
P. J. Brunton, S. L. Meddle, S. Ma, T. Ochedalski, A. J. Douglas, and J. A. Russell
Endogenous Opioids and Attenuated Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Responses to Immune Challenge in Pregnant Rats
J. Neurosci., May 25, 2005; 25(21): 5117 - 5126.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
S. Ma, M. J. Shipston, D. Morilak, and J. A. Russell
Reduced Hypothalamic Vasopressin Secretion Underlies Attenuated Adrenocorticotropin Stress Responses in Pregnant Rats
Endocrinology, March 1, 2005; 146(3): 1626 - 1637.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
A. J. Douglas, P. J. Brunton, O. J. Bosch, J. A. Russell, and I. D. Neumann
Neuroendocrine Responses to Stress in Mice: Hyporesponsiveness in Pregnancy and Parturition
Endocrinology, December 1, 2003; 144(12): 5268 - 5276.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
I. D. Neumann, O. J. Bosch, N. Toschi, L. Torner, and A. J. Douglas
No Stress Response of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Parturient Rats: Lack of Involvement of Brain Oxytocin
Endocrinology, June 1, 2003; 144(6): 2473 - 2479.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. Heinrichs, G. Meinlschmidt, I. Neumann, S. Wagner, C. Kirschbaum, U. Ehlert, and D. H. Hellhammer
Effects of Suckling on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Responses to Psychosocial Stress in Postpartum Lactating Women
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2001; 86(10): 4798 - 4804.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
A. Wigger, P. Lörscher, I. Oehler, M. E. Keck, T. Naruo, and I. D. Neumann
Nonresponsiveness of the Rat Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis to Parturition-Related Events: Inhibitory Action of Endogenous Opioids
Endocrinology, June 1, 1999; 140(6): 2843 - 2849.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1998 by the Society for Endocrinology.