title: Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid effects on adrenocorticotropin and beta-endorphin in the adrenalectomized rat.
abstract: Immunoreactive ACTH (ir-ACTH) and immunoreactive beta-endorphin (ir-betaEP) were determined in plasma, anterior pituitary, neuro-intermediate lobe, and hypothalamus of sham-adrenalectomized rats, and adrenalectomized rats given six daily injections of vehicle (oil), dexamethasone, 9alpha-fluorocortisol or deoxycorticosterone. 6 d after adrenalectomy, anterior pituitary ir-ACTH and ir-betaEP were double, and plasma levels approximately fivefold those in controls. Adrenalectomy did not alter hypothalamic levels of either peptide, or ir-betaEP in neuro-intermediate lobe, in which tissue ir-ACTH was below detection limit at routine dilutions. Dexamethasone (0.2-200 mug/d) concurrently suppressed plasma ir-ACTH and ir-betaEP, with a near maximal effect at 20 mug, and a half-maximal effect between 2 and 6 mug; similar dose-response characteristics were found for thymolysis. Step-wise increases in anterior pituitary content of both peptides were found, with no change in hypothalamic levels of either peptide, or neuro-intermediate lobe ir-betaEP. 9alpha-fluorocortisol (0.2-200 mug/d) produced plasma, anterior pituitary, and hypothalamic effects equivalent to dexamethasone, but with one-tenth the potency. Unlike dexamethasone, higher doses of 9alpha-fluorocortisol significantly elevated neuro-intermediate lobe ir-betaEP. Deoxycorticosterone (2-2,000 mug/d) produced no significant changes in plasma, anterior pituitary or hypothalamic levels of either peptide; like 9alpha-fluorocortisol, doses of >60 mug/d significantly elevated neuro-intermediate lobe ir-betaEP. Whereas ir-ACTH and ir-betaEP synthesis in and release from the anterior pituitary are under complex negative feedback glucocorticoid control, there exists a mineralocorticoid-specific effect on neuro-intermediate lobe content of ir-betaEP.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005438:Fludrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D005438:Fludrocortisone