Post-stress recovery of pituitary-adrenal hormones and glucose, but not the response during exposure to the stressor, is a marker of stress intensity in highly stressful situations

Brain Res. 2002 Feb 1;926(1-2):181-5. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(01)03112-2.

Abstract

Acute immobilization in male rats elicited the same ACTH, corticosterone and glucose response as foot shock when measured immediately after stress. However, post-stress recovery of plasma ACTH, corticosterone and glucose levels were delayed in immobilized versus shocked rats. Similarly, stress-induced anorexia was much greater in the former animals. All these data suggest that post-stress speed of recovery of some physiological variables is positively related to stressor intensity and could be used to evaluate it.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood*
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Corticosterone / blood*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electroshock
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
  • Male
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiology*
  • Prolactin / blood
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Restraint, Physical
  • Stress, Physiological / blood*
  • Stress, Physiological / physiopathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Prolactin
  • Corticosterone