The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays an important role in regulating and controlling immune responses. Dysfunction of the HPA axis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other rheumatic diseases. The impact of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy on HPA axis function also remains a matter of concern, particularly for longer treatment duration. Knowledge o...

In response to stressors, the central nervous system of livestock (and other mammalian species) evokes physiological responses that ultimately result in activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and the sympatho-adrenal axis. The responses of these major systems are presumed to have adaptive and homeostatic value during periods of stress. The major hormone regulating the...

Our previous studies demonstrated that the epimedium herb, when simultaneously used with GCs, counteracted suppressive effects of GCs on the HPA axis without adverse influence on the therapeutic action of GCs. Here, total flavones were extracted from the epimedium flavonoids (EFs) and then used to investigate whether EFs provide protective effects on the HPA axis. We found that GCs induced a si...

OBJECTIVE Subtle dysregulations of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in chronic fatigue syndrome have been described. The aim of this study was to examine the negative feedback regulations of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in chronic fatigue syndrome. METHODS In 21 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and 21 healthy control subjects, awakening and circadian salivary free cort...

OBJECTIVE To review the new findings about stress, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and depression trying to explain a possible endophenotype prone to depression. METHOD Nonsystematic review of the literature based on the endophenotype hypothesis. RESULTS Depression is linked to hypercortisolemia in many patients, but not all patients present these hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dys...

PURPOSE Prader Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic condition that has concurrent endocrinological insufficiencies. The presence of growth hormone deficiency has been well documented, but adrenal insufficiency (AI) is not widely reported. A review was conducted to investigate its prevalence and relevance in PWS in both adults and children. METHODOLOGY A literature review was performed with ...

The underlying genetic components contributing to individual variability in functions of the stress-responsive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are poorly understood. To determine genetic loci mediating three aspects of the adrenocortical function, we conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis in the segregating F2 generation of a Wistar Kyoto (WKY) x Fischer 344 (F344) cross,...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Adrenal insufficiency is being diagnosed with increasing frequency in critically ill patients. There exists, however, much controversy in the literature as to the nature of this entity, including its pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. The review summarizes our current understanding of the causes and consequences of adrenal insufficiency in critically ill p...

OBJECTIVE Salivary cortisol has recently been suggested for studies on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The lack of circadian rhythm is a marker of Cushing's syndrome (CS), and some authors have reported that low salivary cortisol levels may be a marker of adrenal insufficiency. The aim of our study was to define the role of salivary cortisol in specific diagnostic settings of HPA...

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-6 receptor mRNA and protein have been reported in different brain regions under normal and pathophysiological conditions. Although much is known about the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stimulation after acute administration, less is known about the chronic effects of IL-6 on the function of the HPA axis. In the present study, we examined the function of t...