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Journal Article 2005; 26(4): 361-366 PubMed PMID: 16136008 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Adult, Exercise:physiology, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Immune System:physiology, Immunoglobulin A:blood, Immunoglobulin G:blood, Immunoglobulin M:blood, Sports, Stress, Physiological:blood,.   

BACKGROUND: Despite the numerous studies controversial results exist in specific immune response to exercise. The aim of this study was to determining the differences in the humoral immune parameters, serum ACTH and cortisol levels existing between sportswomen and sedentary subjects and the effect of acute aerobic and anaerobic exercise on these parameters.

MATERIALS/METHODS: 40 sportswomen (Groups 1 and 2) and 20 sedentary women (Group 3) were enrolled and Group 1 performed aerobic exercise on a treadmill for 30 minutes while the Group 2 was subjected to the Wingate effort test for 30 seconds. Before exercising (at 8.30 a.m), immediately after the exercise, and 4 hours, days 2 and 5 days after exercising blood samples were obtained and the levels of IgA, IgG, IgM, complement 3 (C3) and complement 4 (C4) were determined turbidometrically.

RESULTS: Before exercise: the means of IgA and IgG values in the G1 and G2 groups were higher than the Group G3, and the mean cortisol levels in the sedentary group was significantly higher (p<0.05). After Exercise: Whereas the C3 and C4 levels decreased significantly at the end of the exercise in Group 1 and 2 (p<0.05), the IgA, IgG (p<0.05) and IgM levels (p<0.01) at the 4th and 5th determinations were observed to be significantly higher in only the Group 1. The cortisol and ACTH levels were found to have increased significantly (p<0.05) in the Group 1. In Group 2, no changes were observed in the IgA, IgG and IgM levels.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that regular and moderate exercise has favorable effects on the immune system by increasing immunoglobulins which are potent protective factors....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(5): 391-396 PubMed PMID: 15580176 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Adult, Aged, Anxiety:etiology, Caregivers:psychology, Cell Count, Disabled Persons:rehabilitation, Endocrine System:physiology, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Influenza, Human:immunology, Lymphocytes:immunology, M.   

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether psychological well being as well as metabolic, neuroendocrine and immune functions were different in non spousal primary caregivers of disabled elderly than in controls.

SETTING AND DESIGN: We randomly recruited 38 primary family carers of over 65 year old recipients of health home care services and 37 controls stratified according to sex and age.

METHOD: Data were collected on psychological wellbeing (including anxiety, depression and self-perceived quality of life), on neuroendocrine and immune conditions (haemanalysis and metabolic signs, plasma ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, intra-lymphocyte content of beta-endorphins, NK cell activity and number), as well as on the incidence and severity of influenza disease during previous winter.

RESULTS: Caregivers showed greater anxiety, although mean scores did not reach pathological levels. Neither depression nor satisfaction on quality of life did differ significantly, nor differences in haemanalisis and metabolic signs were found, apart from leukocyte and lymphocyte number, which was significantly lower in carers. Plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol and prolactin, the intra-lymphocyte content of beta-endorphins as well as the NK cell number and cytotoxicity did not show significant differences. Incidence and severity of influenza episodes was also similar, whereas the duration of influenza disease showed to be significantly longer.

CONCLUSIONS: Non spousal caregivers of disabled elderly suffer from only slight alterations of psychological, endocrine and immune parameters, and do not respond very differently to influenza disease. This does not support therefore any generic privilege for them in the allocation of public support or respite services....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(4): 278-282 PubMed PMID: 15361817 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Adult, Cesarean Section, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone:blood, Dehydroepiandrosterone:blood, Female, Fetal Blood:metabolism, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:metabolism, Infant, Newborn:blood.   

OBJECTIVES: The changes in corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in maternal and fetal plasma were estimated in two group of women undergoing labour after oxytocin induction, or elective cesarean section to correlate changes in maternal and fetal HPA axis to the different stressor conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood was sampled from a maternal peripheral vein two days before labour, during the second stage of labour and on the second postnatal day, and also from umbilical vessels just after delivery. Hormone concentrations were measured by RIA and ELSA methods. The maternal plasma CRH concentration before and after labour was similar in both studied groups.

RESULTS: Plasma CRH levels measured before labour in both groups were similar, but during labour after oxytocin infusion declined, and was in group of women with elective cesarean section rose, after the delivery there was no difference between groups. The plasma ACTH prior to the delivery was at the same level in all subjects, during the third stage of labour ACTH rose in the both groups, but was statistically higher in group with oxytocin infusion. The concentrations of cortisol before delivery was similar in both groups, then rose to the same level during the delivery and then declined to the level observed before delivery. The DHEA concentration was similar in both groups, did not change during the labour, there was no difference between its level in the umbilical vein and artery. In the group with oxytocin-induction there was no correlation between maternal CRH and ACTH or cortisol concentration, but such a correlation occurred in the group with elective cesarean section. The concentration of ACTH and DHEA in umbilical artery was similar in both groups but the concentrations of CRH and cortisol in umbilical artery in group of newborns delivered after elective cesarean section were statistically higher.

CONCLUSION: The activity of the mother's HPA axis is partially inhibited rather by psychological stressors, than events connected with mode of parturition. The newborn's HPA axis responds in a specific way to mother's HPA-axis. The communication between mother's and newborn's HPA is possibly related to many other factors than placental CRH and ACTH. It is necessary to consider effects of central CRH and ACTH on the fine-tune regulation of HPA axis in the late pregnancy and parturition, not detectable due to the high levels of placental hormones....

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Comparative Study 2004; 25(1-2): 119-126 PubMed PMID: 15159695 Citation  Keywords:  Adipose Tissue:physiology, Adrenal Glands:physiology, Adrenalectomy, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus:drug effects, Body Composition:physiology, Corticosterone:blood, Eating:physiology, Female, .   

UNLABELLED: It is known that rats treated, at neonatal age, with monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) develop neuroendocrine and metabolic abnormalities, resulting in a phenotype of hypothalamic obesity, characterized by increased adiposity, corticosteronemia and leptinemia.

OBJECTIVE: We explored whether adrenal manipulations could result in the reversion of this phenotype of hypothalamic obesity.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS: Newborn male rats, treated with MSG or vehicle (CTR), were submitted to sham operation, bilateral adrenalectomy (ADX) or bilateral adrenal enucleation (AE) on day 120 of age. Animals were examined 21 days after ADX, combined or not with corticosterone (B) substitution (ADX+B), and on days 21 and 35 after AE. Food intake, body weight and body fat mass were monitored; additionally circulating levels of insulin, leptin, ACTH and B were measured.

RESULTS: Our data indicate that: a) normalization of basal B circulating levels in, 21 day-ADX and -AE, MSG rats fully reversed hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia and significantly decreased body fat mass; and b) recovery of hypercorticosteronemia in, 35 day-AE, MSG rats fully restored this phenotype of hypothalamic obesity.

CONCLUSION: Our study strongly supports that high glucocorticoid production is the main factor responsible for the development of enhanced adiposity in MSG rats and, importantly, that this abnormality could be reversed by an appropriate therapy....

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Journal Article 2003; 24(3-4): 249-254 PubMed PMID: 14523365 Citation  Keywords:  17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone:blood, Adolescent, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Adult, Female, Hirsutism:blood, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Hyperandrogenism:genetics, Pituitary-Adrenal System:physiopathology, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:genetics, Stero.   

OBJECTIVES: Impaired adrenal function is common in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Abnormal regulation of cytochrome P450 17 alpha is believed to cause the exaggerated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) response to ACTH stimulation. The aim of the study was to evaluate cortisol and 17OHP response to low dose (1 microg) ACTH test and to compare it with the standard ACTH (250 microg) test in hyperandrogenic women with PCOS.

DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS: We studied 27 PCOS and 22 control women. All participants were examined for mutations of the CYP21 gene, Cortisol and 17OHP levels before, 30 and 60 minutes after the IV injection of 250 microg ACTH (SDT) and after 1 microg ACTH (LDT). Fasting serum levels of LH, FSH, testosterone, DHEAS were determined in all participants.

RESULTS: Basal and ACTH stimulated Cortisol during the SDT (470+/-138 nmol/L and 761+/-143, respectively) were significantly higher in PCOS vs. controls (232+/-124 and 670+/-130, respectively) (p<0.03, p<0.02, respectively). Basal 17OHP (6.1+/-2.1 nmol/L) and the peak response to SDT (14.2+/-3.6 nmol/L) were significantly higher in PCOS vs. controls (4.2+/-2.1, 10.9+/-3.0, respectively) (p<0.003, p<0.004, respectively). Abnormally elevated 17OHP response to SDT was detected in 6/27 PCOS women (22%). No statistically significant difference between the PCOS and control groups were noted during the LDT in both cortisol and 17OHP levels.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the exaggerated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) response to ACTH stimulation in PCOS is revealed by stimulation at a pharmacological dose (250 microg) but not by a physiological dose (1 microg)....

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Clinical Trial 2003; 24(3-4): 197-202 PubMed PMID: 14523357 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Adult, Anxiety:physiopathology, Blood Pressure:physiology, Conflict (Psychology), Heart Rate:physiology, Hemodynamics:physiology, Hormones:blood, Human Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, MMPI, Military P.   

OBJECTIVES: Pilots are exposed to the "stress of flight" and the chronically activated stress response may play an important role in circulatory system disease progression. We studied the effect of an experimental mental stress on cardiovascular and neuroendocrine activity, in Air Force Academy cadets, before and after one month intensive course.

DESIGN: Nine cadets were submitted to a psychometric evaluation before Stroop test (ST), including Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI X1 and X2 form) and Reaction Scheme Test. After ST, subjects completed a STAI X1 form. Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were monitored and serum prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol levels were determined, during ST. The protocol was repeated at the end of the course.

RESULTS: No significant differences were evident in PRL, GH and ACTH levels. Cortisol concentrations were significantly higher before the course. ST did not modify hormone secretion. ST induced a significant and reproducible elevation of HR and SBP. Basal HR, SBP and DBP values were significantly elevated after the course. Two subjects presented a particular psychometric profile, a different cardiovascular response to ST and did not pass the course.

CONCLUSIONS: acute mental stress significantly activated cardiovascular response without modifying endocrine responses, in relation to the psychological profiles. A significant increase of cardiovascular parameters was present after the course, with enhanced dichotomy between the endocrine and sympathetic system, suggesting a careful evaluation and follow-up for circulatory system diseases in cadets....

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Comparative Study 2003; 24(1-2): 97-103 PubMed PMID: 12743542 Citation  Keywords:  Acute Disease, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Animals, Chronic Disease, Corticosterone:blood, Electroshock, Environment, Food Deprivation:physiology, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:physiopathology, Male, Noise:adverse effects, Organ Size:physiology, R.   

OBJECTIVES: We examined the role that novelty plays in determining interactions between chronic and acute stress, when both the chronic and acute stressors emphasize emotional processing (i.e. stressful stimuli that do not present immediate threats to somatic homeostasis, and are processed primarily by limbic and forebrain circuits).

METHODS: Rats were exposed to a chronic variable stress (CVS) regimen, and were subsequently tested to evaluate responses to novel and familiar acute stressors. One group was exposed to CVS that included restraint, and was then tested with this familiar stressor. Another group was exposed to CVS that did not include restraint, and were tested with restraint as a novel stressor. Additional rats were not chronically stressed. Plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) were assayed.

RESULTS: When the rats were exposed to familiar acute stress after CVS, ACTH responses were blunted. The ACTH responses were normal in the rats that were tested with novel acute stress--the responses resembled those of rats that had no prior stress experience. CORT responses did not differ between the groups, regardless of stress history.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that all the chronic and acute stressors emphasized emotional processing of aversive stimuli, and thus likely involved overlapping limbic and forebrain circuits, the hormonal responses differed depending upon familiarity with the acute stressor. Further research is required to identify the neuronal mechanisms that mediate these differing responses to novel and familiar emotional stressors....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(2): 85-93 PubMed PMID: 12011791 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:physiology, Animals, Biological Evolution, Invertebrates:physiology, Opioid Peptides:physiology, Stress, Physiological:physiopathology,.   

: Through an extremely complicated equilibrium called homeostasis, all living organisms maintain their survival in the face of both externally and internally generated "stimuli". This apparent harmony is constantly challenged. Survival through successful adaptation is maintained as close to steady state as possible by adaptive responses, which may also be called perturbation responses since they have a constitutively defined dynamic capacity, i.e., an immediate limit, in a series of balancing and feedback activities reflecting an astounding array of biological, psychological and sociological behaviors. The broad spectrum of stimuli capable of engaging this protective response is remarkable. We define stress as a type of stimulation that is stronger and lasts for a longer duration, upsetting a typical perturbation response given its dynamic parameters. The stress response, which evolves out of the perturbation response, involves inducible signal molecules, i.e., cytokines. We surmise that the ability to exist in an ever-changing environment was a requirement for all life forms, including invertebrates and single celled organisms. It would be expected that these organisms exhibit both perturbation and stress responses. In this regard, we demonstrate that these organisms have mammalian-like signal molecule systems, i.e., opioid, and corresponding behaviors that are similar to those found in mammals with regard to both perturbation and stress responses. Thus, it would appear that these responses evolved first in simpler organisms and were then maintained and enhanced during evolution....

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