title: Endocrine and behavioral responses to psychological stress in hyperandrogenic women.
abstract: Stress has been implicated in the physiopathology of the ovarian androgenic syndrome. To explore further this notion, we compared the behavioral and endocrine responses to a mental stressor between women with hyperandrogenism (n = 13) and normals (n = 11). The standardized psychological stimulus produced higher levels of anxiety in the hyperandrogenic group than in controls. The endocrine (cortisol, prolactin, growth hormone, beta-endorphin) responses poststressor were definitely dissociated. Both groups showed a comparable anticipatory stress cortisol-secretion response. The cortisol release was greater following the mental stressor in the hyperandrogenic group than in the normals. Thus, hyperandrogenic women appear to have an abnormally affected pituitary-adrenal activation, which may play a role in the pituitary-ovarian disruption characteristic of the ovarian androgenic syndrome.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn 11203.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Modell
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Goldstein
authors: F I
authors: FI
authors: Reyes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013577:Syndrome; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone