Chronic ethanol consumption depresses hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function in aged rats

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Life Sciences; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(91)90294-L· OSTI ID:5863097

Nolan, C J; Bestervelt, L L; Mousigian, C A; Maimansomsuk, P; Cai, Yong; Piper, W N ^[1]

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1. Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor (United States)

In separate experiments, nine (n=20) and fifteen (n=12) month old rats were treated with either 6% ethanol or 12% sucrose in the drinking water to examine the effect of chronic ethanol consumption on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of aged rats. Blood was collected and plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticosterone were determined by radioimmunoassay. Adrenal glands were cleaned, quartered and used to test in vitro responsiveness to ACTH. Anterior pituitary glands from all 15 month old rats and one half of the nine month old rats were collected, frozen and extracted for measurement of tissue ACTH concentration. The remaining anterior pituitary glands from the nine month old rats were challenged with corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) to test in vitro responsiveness. In nine month old rats, chronic ethanol consumption decreased plasma ACTH and corticosterone. Pituitary ACTH concentrations were unchanged in treated nine month old rats, but the amount of pituitary ACTH released in response to CRH was decreased in rats consuming ethanol. In vitro responsiveness of the adrenal gland to ACTH in nine month old rats consuming ethanol was unchanged. Plasma ACTH and corticosterone concentrations were also decreased in 15 month old rats chronically consuming ethanol. No differences were noted in responsiveness of the adrenal gland or in the amount of pituitary ACTH due to ethanol consumptions in 15 month old rats.

• OSTI ID: 5863097
• Journal Information: Life Sciences; (United States), Journal Name: Life Sciences; (United States) Vol. 49:25; ISSN 0024-3205; ISSN LIFSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADRENAL GLANDS
ADRENAL HORMONES
AGE DEPENDENCE
ALCOHOLS
ANIMALS
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BODY
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
CORTICOSTEROIDS
CORTICOSTERONE
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ETHANOL
GLANDS
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOLOGY
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KETONES
MAMMALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PITUITARY GLAND
PREGNANES
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNODETECTION
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
RATS
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES