HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ariznavarreta, C. Articles by López-Calderón, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ariznavarreta, C. Articles by López-Calderón, A.

In order to study the involvement of the adrenal medulla in stress-induced inhibition of gonadotrophin secretion, we measured plasma concentrations of LH, FSH and corticosterone in adult male rats subjected to chronic restraint after surgical ablation of the adrenal medulla. In intact animals, chronic restraint (6 h daily over 4 days) induced a significant (P<0.05) decrease in plasma concentrations of LH, whereas plasma concentrations of corticosterone showed the expected significant (P<0.01) increase. Adrenomedullectomy did not significantly modify basal plasma concentrations of LH or corticosterone. In these rats, there was no significant decrease of LH after stress, while the increase in corticosterone was as significant as in sham-operated animals (P<0.01). In order to confirm the role of adrenomedullary catecholamines in stress-induced gonadotrophin inhibition another group of rats was treated s.c. with the β-adrenergic blocker propranolol (2 mg/kg twice daily). These rats showed an attenuated inhibition of LH during stress similar to that observed in adrenomedullectomized rats. Levels of FSH were significantly reduced after stress in the saline-treated group, while there were no differences between stressed or unstressed rats in the propranolol-treated group. These results may be considered as evidence that medullary catecholamines, acting through β-receptors, are factors involved in gonadotrophin inhibition during chronic stress.

Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 120, 275–279

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. M. Sapolsky, L. M. Romero, and A. U. Munck How Do Glucocorticoids Influence Stress Responses? Integrating Permissive, Suppressive, Stimulatory, and Preparative Actions Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2000; 21(1): 55 - 89. [Abstract] [Full Text]