Hypothalamo-pituitary adrenocortical function in the rat after treatment with betamethasone.
1 Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activity was suppressed in rats treated with betamethasone. 2 Recovery of normal HPA function occurred after corticosteroid withdrawl. 3 Although corticotrophin release was rapidly restored to its basal rate there was a delay in the return of the normal adrenocorticotrophic response to stress and normal adrenocortical function was evident only after the plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone had reached 'supra-normal' levels. 4 The physiological significance and possible clinical relevance of the results are discussed.
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone