title: Vasopressin is not involved in the catecholamine-induced release of ACTH, alpha-MSH and beta-endorphin from the rat pituitary gland.
abstract: The effect of catecholamines on plasma levels of immunoreactive ACTH (ACTHi), alpha-MSH (alpha-MSHi), beta-endorphin (beta-ENDi), arginine-vasopressin (AVPi) and of corticosterone (B) was studied in female rats. Intravenous infusion of the specific beta-adrenoceptor-stimulating agent l-isoproterenol in Wistar rats under pentobarbital anesthesia resulted in a dose-dependent (dose range: 10-100 ng/kg . min) increase in plasma B. At higher concentrations, l-isoproterenol also caused a dose-dependent increase in plasma AVPi (dose range: 100-1,000 ng/kg . min). In addition to isoproterenol, also intravenous infusion of l-epinephrine caused a dose-dependent increase of plasma B (dose range: 100-1,000 ng/kg . min), whereas l-epinephrine was without effect on plasma AVPi, even at the highest dose tested (1,000 ng/kg . min). The effect of l-epinephrine or l-isoproterenol on plasma B was associated with a parallel and dose-related increase in plasma ACTHi, beta-ENDi and alpha-MSHi. The increase of plasma ACTHi, B and beta-ENDi in response to l-isoproterenol (300 ng/kg . min) was identical in Wistar, Long Evans and Brattleboro rats (Long Evans rats with a hereditary lack of vasopressin). Also the responses to l-epinephrine (1,000 ng/kg . min) were identical in Wistar and Brattleboro rats. We conclude that vasopressin does not mediate the catecholamine-induced release of ACTH, beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D004723:Endorphins / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011910:Rats, Brattleboro; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000502:physiology*; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D014667:Vasopressins; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D007545:Isoproterenol; D003345:Corticosterone; D004837:Epinephrine