title: Effects of proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide on the rat pituitary-adrenocortical axis under basal and stressful conditions.
abstract: Proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) derives, along with adrenomedullin (AM), from prepro-AM. AM has been reported to modulate the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and this study aimed at ascertaining whether PAMP exerts similar effects. PAMP was subcutaneously administered to non-stressed and stressed rats, and the plasma concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone were measured by radioimmune assay. In non-stressed rats, PAMP raised ACTH and corticosterone blood levels at 60 min, and ACTH plasma concentration at 120 min. Ether and cold stresses increased the plasma levels of both ACTH and corticosterone, and PAMP dampened HPA axis response to cold stress, without affecting that to ether stress. The conclusion is drawn that PAMP i) stimulates rat HPA axis, through a mechanism similar to that of ether stress; and ii) interferes with the neural pathways involved in the cold stress-induced activation of HPA axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, PL-60781 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Ludwik K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Malendowicz
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Gastone G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nussdorfer
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majchrzak
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000097:blood; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004986:Ether / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004986:Ether; D053607:Adrenomedullin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone