Specific regulation of ACTH secretion under the influence of low and high ambient temperature-The role of catecholamines and vasopressin

Abstract

The response of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis to different stressors depends on numerous stimulatory and inhibitory signals gathering from various parts of the brain to the hypothalamic nuclei. The present study was aimed at determining whether catecholamines (CA) and vasopressin (VP) play the role in the specific regulation of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion under the influence of thermal stressors, cold (+4 °C) and heat (+38 °C), applied acutely for 1. h or repeatedly during 7 and 14. day (1. h daily). The results showed that following acute exposure to those stressors, hypothalamic dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (ADR) concentrations were significantly decreased as compared to non stressed controls. The prolonged exposure to either of the two stressors left hypothalamic CA concentration unaffected. The amount of pituitary VP significantly increased only under the influence of acute heat stress. Prolonged exposure to both stressors induced significant decrease in the pituitary VP content. Unlike the heat, the cold-caused changes in circulating VP did not follow those in the pituitary. The applied stressors significantly increased the amount of the pituitary V1b receptor (V1bR) mainly present at the surface of corticotrophs, depending on both duration of exposure and nature of stressor. Additionally, both cold and heat specifically induced an increase in blood ACTH. In conclusion, this study's results suggest that the role of VP in the regulation of the ACTH secretion in response to cold and heat depends on the type of stressor, whereas the role of the CA depends on the manner of exposure.