The Role of Neuro-Endocrine System in Stress Mediation and Health Maintenance

Human beings do have several stresses, and the scientific study of stress has been taken care of by several disciplines in the past decades. But, especially when the whole body and mind is looked upon, then ‘Neuro-Psycho-Endocrinology’ appears to be a promising area of research. Squire et al. (2003) observed that stress is an internal cue that disrupts the homeostatic status of the animal. The neuroenodocrine system involved in mediating the stress response is the brain-pituitary adrenal axis. The findings of Euler (1946, 1956); Selye’s (1950) pioneering work on the pituitaryadrenal cortical system and the General Adaptation Syndrome form the basis of today’s psychoendocrine stress research. The hypothalamic hormone controlling this axis is corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), produced in highest levels in the medial parvicellular part of the paraventricular nucleus (mp PVN). Hamburg & Kessler (1976) highlighted the importance of the neuroenodocrine functions in the regulation and the stress mediation. They observed mainly on CNS regulation of endocrine function, especially the effects of psychological stress on adrenocortical functions. The Role of Neuro-Endocrine System ...