title: Neuroendocrinology of cerebrospinal fluid: peptides, steroids, and other hormones.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been implicated as a conduit in neuroendocrine integration. Evidence suggests that the ventricular CSF may promote the central distribution, enable the dilutional inactivation (sink effect), and facilitate the peripheral delivery of neurally secreted hormones. This discussion of the sites of origin and concentration gradients of CSF hormones and of both physiological and pharmacological variations in the hormonal content of the CSF provides insight into the putative role of CSF in neuroendocrine regulation. Normal or control concentrations of peptides, steroids, and other hormones present in human lumbar CSF are listed to provide a physiological base line to which the CSF hormonal profile of patients may be compared. The individual, somatotopic, chronological, endocrinological, pharmacological, and possible artifactual variations in CSF hormonal composition are presented to facilitate the formulation of clinical protocols and to eliminate possible sources of error.
mesh_terms: D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005246:Feedback; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006728:Hormones / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D009489:Neurosecretion; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D010455:Peptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D013256:Steroids / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006728:Hormones; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010455:Peptides; D013256:Steroids; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone