title: Endocrine mechanisms of stress-induced DHEA-secretion.
abstract: Acute psychological stress of a first time parachute jump stimulated DHEA and cortisol secretion in healthy volunteers. A significant shift from cortisol to DHEA occurred during this stress exposure. This effect was more pronounced in subjects receiving the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol prior to the jump. In contrast, infusion of epinephrine (0.10 microgram/kg/min) or norepinephrine (0.15 microgram/kg/min) for 20 min neither affected DHEA plasma levels nor the DHEA/cortisol ratio. However, pretreatment with propranolol resulted in a significant increase of the DHEA/cortisol ratio upon infusion of the beta-adrenoceptor agonist epinephrine. These data demonstrate that during acute psychological stress stimulation of adrenal steroid release is accompanied by a shift towards DHEA. Augmentation of this effect by beta-adrenoceptor blockade indicates a beta-adrenoceptor-dependent mechanism affecting DHEA release.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oberbeck
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Benschop
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hosch
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Jetschmann
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schürmeyer
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schedlowski
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002395:Catecholamines; D006728:Hormones; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011433:Propranolol