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...

Purpose. The interaction of hormones of the pituitary-adrenal axis and adrenal cortex-associated circulating microRNAs is mostly unknown. We have studied the effects of dexamethasone and adrenocorticotropin on the expression of five circulating microRNAs (hsa-miR-27a, hsa-miR-200b, hsa-miR-214, hsa-miR-483-5p, and hsa-miR-503) reported to be related to the adrenal cortex in plasma samples. Meth...

Many wild species exhibit seasonal cycles of testicular and adrenal functions suggesting important interrelationships between the two. However, data on desert rodents are very scarce. We investigated the pituitary adrenal (PA) axis activity of the Libyan jird from the Sahara desert, during the breeding and the non-breeding seasons. We explored, during the breeding season, the effects induced by...

Cushing syndrome (CS) is an endocrinological disorder characterized by increased blood cortisol level. It either due to excessive endogenous release of steroids (e.g., pituitary adenoma or adrenal hyperplasia) exogenous administration steroids. Iatrogenic the most common form syndrome. The vast majority cases are oral parenteral steroid preparations, which commonly prescribed for pulmonary, ren...

Introduction: Several researches have reported that stress is able to inhibit the development of morphine tolerance via activating of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. In the present study we tried to examine the effect of epinephrine, the product of adrenal medulla, on the development of morphine tolerance. Methods: Analgesic tolerance was induced by intrathecal (i.t.) injection of...

Title:Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning and dysfunctional attitude in depressed patients with and without childhood neglect

Psychostimulants such as methamphetamine (MA) induce significant alterations in the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These changes in HPA axis function are associated with altered stress-related behaviors and might contribute to addictive processes such as relapse. In this mini-review we discuss acute and chronic effects of MA (adult and developmental exposure) on the ...

In nonlaboratory settings, social users of cocaine are sometimes able to control their drug intake so their patterns of use do not escalate to levels that would increase their risk of dependency and toxicity (Siegel 1984). This suggests that there may be factors in addition to the primary reinforcing properties of cocaine that determine why some individuals can remain casual recreational users ...

Investigation of early human fetal tissue has helped us elucidate the onset of the activation of the pituitary-adrenal axis during human development. Adrenal steroidogenesis and ACTH secretion from the pituitary starts at 7-8 weeks postconception, providing the rationale for prenatal treatment using dexamethasone offered to fetuses at risk of 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). Fluctuation of 3...