We compared the activity and responsiveness of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of an urban (Phoenix, Arizona) and desert population of a male songbird species (Curve-billed Thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre), by measuring plasma corticosterone in response to acute administration of corticotropin-releasing factor, arginine vasotocin, or adrenocorticotropin hormone. Urban adult male th...

Magnocellular neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus containing arginine vasotocin (AVT) project to the posterior pituitary and release the peptide peripherally to target tissues. Parvocellular neurons contain either corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), AVT, or both neuropeptides and project to the median eminence. Corticotropin-releasing hormone and AVT are then transported to t...

Many species use social networks to buffer the effects of stress. The mere absence of a social network, however, may also be stressful. We examined neuroendocrine, PVN CRH neurons and report that social isolation alters the intrinsic properties of these cells in sexually dimorphic fashion. Specifically, isolating preadolescent female mice from littermates for <24 hr increased first spike latenc...

The effects of exogenous corticotropin releasing factor and arginine vasopressin were evaluated in 6- and 11-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Basal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and vasopressin levels did not differ between SHR and WKY, but basal corticosterone level was higher in 6-week-old SHR (p less than 0.01). To block endogenous...

The effects of exogenous corticotropin releasing factor and arginine vasopressin were evaluated in 6and 11-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive WistarKyoto rats (WKY). Basal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and vasopressin levels did not differ between SHR and WKY, but basal corticosterone level was higher in 6-week-old SHR (p<0.01). To block endogenous corticotropi...

OBJECTIVE Aim of this study was to identify whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has a vital antidepressant by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) or not. METHODS Mice were divided into 2 groups: control group and DHA dietary group. DHA dietary group was treated with DHA dietary everyday for consecutive 50 days. The forced swimming test and tail suspension test were conducted. Hypoth...

Objective(s): To investigate the effects of paeoniflorin (PEF) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis feedback function of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). cSingle-prolonged stress (SPS) was used to establish a PTSD-like rat model. The contents of plasma corticosterone (CORT), adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and cortic...

A hierarchical hormonal cascade along the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis orchestrates bodily responses to stress. Although corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), produced by parvocellular neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and released into the portal circulation at the median eminence, is known to prime downstream hormone release, the molecular mechanism regulating ...

Whole-cell patch-clamp and extracellular field recordings were obtained from 450-microns-thick brain slices of infant rats (10-13 days postnatal) to determine the actions of corticotropin-releasing hormone on glutamate- and GABA-mediated synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. Synthetic corticotropin-releasing hormone (0.15 microM) reversibly increased the excitability of hippocampal pyramida...

Environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity allows developing organisms to respond adaptively to changes in their habitat. Desert amphibians have evolved traits which allow successful development in unpredictable environments. Tadpoles of these species can accelerate metamorphosis as their pond dries, thus escaping mortality in the larval habitat. This developmental response can be replicated...