The role of vasopressin in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation during lactation
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1
Dr.H.S.Gour University, Department of Zoology, India
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2
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary
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3
Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Germany
Adaptation to stress is a basic phenomenon in life and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) plays a crutial role in it. Lactation is a chronic load therefore HPA axis is constantly active. Here we examined the role of vasopressin (AVP) in HPA axis regulation during lactation using the natural AVP knockout Brattleboro rat. Virgin and lactating, homo- and heterozygous (control) AVP-deficient rats were compared. Heterozygous dams showed all somatic signs of chronic stress (elevated adrenal weight and involuted thymuses) compared to virgins. The lack of AVP prevented the adrenal gland hyperplasia only. Corticotrop releasing hormone mRNA level in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) was elevated in heterozygous dams, but not in AVP-deficient mothers. The adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) percursor proopiomelanocortin mRNA level in the adenohypophysis was elevated in dams as well as in AVP-deficient virgins without interaction. Resting plasma ACTH levels were unchanged, while corticosterone levels were elevated in heterozygous dams without changes in AVP-deficient dams. The oxytocin mRNA in the PVN was higher in AVP-deficient virgins but lactation induced further rise in both genotypes. Our results support the view that lactation leeds to the development of chronic stress state. The regulatory role of AVP was only partial. Oxytocin elevation may compensate the missing AVP, however the functional restitution is not complete.
Conference:
12th Meeting of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society, Budapest, Hungary, 22 Jan - 24 Jan, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Homeostatic regulatory mechanisms
Citation:
Jain
S,
Mergl
Z,
Barna
I,
Engelmann
M and
Zelena
D
(2009). The role of vasopressin in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation during lactation.
Front. Syst. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
12th Meeting of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.01.2009.04.013
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Received:
25 Feb 2009;
Published Online:
25 Feb 2009.
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Correspondence:
Subodh Kumar Jain, Dr.H.S.Gour University, Department of Zoology, Sagar - 470 003, India, subjain@gmail.com