Estrogen and androgen influence hypothalamic AVP and CRF concentrations in fetal and adult sheep.
The present study tested the hypothesis that action of sex steroids on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is measurable in the hypothalamus. Late-gestation fetal sheep were treated (5 mg/21 days) with either estradiol, androstenedione, or tamoxifen and compared to age-matched control fetuses. Tamoxifen significantly increased hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations, and androstenedione significantly decreased hypothalamic CRF concentration. Adult sheep were treated with estrone (10 mg/21 days), and responded with significant increases in hypothalamic AVP concentration, but not in immunoreactive ACTH concentration or processing within the pituitary. The results demonstrate that the effect of estrogen on the HPA axis is measurable in the hypothalamus, and is therefore not primarily at the anterior pituitary.
Wood
C E
CE
Departments of Physiology and Pharmacodynamics, PO Box 100274, JHMHC, University of Florida Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Gainesville, FL 32610-0274, USA. cwood@phys.med.ufl.edu
Saoud
C J
CJ
Stoner
T A
TA
Keller-Wood
M
M
D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology
D000728:Androgens; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D004967:Estrogens; D013629:Tamoxifen; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D004970:Estrone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone