Summary
Serum ACTH levels were determined by RIA following sciatic nerve stimulation, in intact rats and in rats bearing anterior (AHD), posterior (PHD) or complete (CHD) hypothalamic deafferentations. In both N and PHD groups, serum ACTH concentrations were markedly elevated following stimulation. In CHD animals this response was completely eliminated, and in the AHD group only a very slight and marginally significant increase in serum ACTH occured, upon stimulation. These results demonstrate that the increased corticosterone secretion which occurs following sciatic nerve stimulation is due to elevated blood levels of ACTH, and confirm that this somatosensory stimulation impinges upon the hypothalamus from the rostral directions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cook DM, Greer MA, Kendall JW (1972) The half life of endogenous immunoreactive ACTH in rat plasma. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 139: 972–974
Engeland WV, Shinsako J, Dallman MF (1975) Corticosteroids and ACTH are not required for compensatory adrenal growth. Am J Physiol 229: 1461–1464
Feldman S, Conforti N, Chowers I, Davidson JM (1968) Differential effects of hypothalamic deafferentation on responses to different stresses. Isr J Med Sci 4: 908–911
Feldman S, Conforti N, Chowers I (1971) The role of the medial forebrain bundle in mediating adrenocortical responses to neurogenic stimuli. J Endocrinol 51: 745–749
Feldman S, Conforti N, Chowers I (1972) Neural pathways mediating adrenocortical responses to photic and acoustic stimuli. Neuroendocrinology 10: 316–323
Feldman S, Conforti N, Chowers I (1975) Adrenocortical responses following sciatic nerve stimulation in rats with partial hypothalamic deafferentations. Acta Endocrinol 80: 625–629
Feldman S, Conforti N (1979) Effect of dorsal hippocampectomy or fimbria section on adrenocortical responses in rats. Isr J Med Sci 15: 539–541
Feldman S, Conforti N (1980) The role of the medial septal nucleus in mediating adrenocortical responses to somatosensory stimulation. J Neurosci Res 5: 19–23
Fortier C (1951) Dual-control of adrenocorticotropin secretion. Endocrinology 49: 782–788
Halasz B, Pupp L (1965) Hormone secretion of the anterior pituitary gland after physical interruption of all nervous pathways of the hypophysiotrophic area. Endocrinology 77: 553–562
Holzwarth M, Wilkinson CW, Dallman MF (1980) Compensatory adrenal growth in immature and mature male rats. Neuroendocrinology 31: 34–38
Krieger DT, Liotta AS, Hauser H, Brownstein MJ (1979) Effect of stress, adrenocorticotrophin or corticosteroid treatment, adrenalectomy, or hypophysectomy on hypothalamic immunoreactive adrenocorticotrophin concentrations. Endocrinology 105: 737–742
Siegel RA, Feldman S, Conforti N, Chowers I (1979) PRL and ACTH secretion following acute heat exposure, in intact and in hypothalamic deafferentated male rats. Brain Res 178: 459–466
Siegel RA, Chowers I, Conforti N, Feldman S (1980) Corticotrophin and corticosterone secretory patterns following acute neurogenic stress, in intact and in various hypothalamic deafferentated male rats. Brain Res 188: 399–410
Slusher MA (1964) Effects of chronic hypothalamic lesions on diurnal and stress corticosteroid levels. Am J Physiol 206: 1161–1164
Yasuda N, Takebe K, Greer MA (1976) Evidence of a nyctohemoral period in stress-induced pituitary-adrenal activation. Neuroendocrinology 21: 214–224
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the US-Israel Binational Foundation grant 1554/78
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Feldman, S., Conforti, N., Chowers, I. et al. Effects of sciatic nerve stimulation on ACTH secretion, in intact and in variously hypothalamic deafferentated male rats. Exp Brain Res 42, 486–488 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237514
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237514