title: Effect of intracerebroventricular injection of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antibodies on ACTH, corticosterone and prolactin secretion in the male rat.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of CNS nicotinic receptors for acetylcholine in the secretory activity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal axis and prolactin (PRL). Adult male rats received a daily intraventricular injection of partially purified nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antibodies (anti-AChR) obtained from a female patient with myasthenia gravis, for 5 consecutive days. Control animals were treated similarly with immunoglobulins obtained from a healthy woman. Blood samples were withdrawn either under basal conditions or following ether stress. Treatment with anti-AChR increased basal ACTH and corticosterone (CS) levels (by approximately two-fold) but completely inhibited the responses of these hormones and PRL to ether stress. In control animals, normal basal and stress-induced responses of ACTH, CS and PRL were observed. This study demonstrated the importance for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the mediation of basal and stress-induced adrenocortical activity as well as for the mediation of PRL secretion in response to stress.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D003345:Corticosterone