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Effects of Psychological Stress on Pituitary Hormones in Man

  • Chapter
Mechanisms of Physical and Emotional Stress

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 245))

Abstract

Psychological Stressors such as stressful social interactions have been shown to elevate heart rate as well as plasma levels of epinephrine (EPI), norepinephrine (NE), and Cortisol (CS) in humans (1–3). Exercise also produces increases in these hormones (4–6) as well as in plasma levels of the peptide hormones derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC): adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), β-endorphin (β-EP) and β-lipotrophic hormone (β-LPH) (7–15). TO determine whether a stressful social interaction would also increase plasma levels of these POMC-derived peptides, we examined the effect of an oral exam on the responses of these hormones as well as CS in a group of healthy young men. We also measured plasma levels of prolactin (PRL), a pituitary hormone not derived from POMC. Our experimental design controlled for any effects due to physical exertion.

The wiews of the authors do not purport to reglect the position of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense (para 4–3, AR 360–5).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurochemistry & Neuroendocrinology Branch, Department of Medical Neurosciences, Division of Neuropsychiatry, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC, 20307-5100, USA

    J. L. Meyerhoff, M. A. Oleshansky & E. H. Mougey

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  2. M. A. Oleshansky
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  3. E. H. Mougey
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  1. National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    George P. Chrousos , D. Lynn Loriaux  & Philip W. Gold ,  & 

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Meyerhoff, J.L., Oleshansky, M.A., Mougey, E.H. (1988). Effects of Psychological Stress on Pituitary Hormones in Man. In: Chrousos, G.P., Loriaux, D.L., Gold, P.W. (eds) Mechanisms of Physical and Emotional Stress. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 245. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2064-5_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2064-5_35

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