ABSTRACT
Experimental study of neuro-endocrinological effects of noise stress shows neuro-mediator modifications. Exposure to stress induces a marked stimulation of the adrenergic structures which increases plasma concentrations of ACTH and glucosteroids. The increased secretion of the cortico-releasing factor (CRT) from the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system mediates a complex cascade in which other neuro-modulators also participate. Within the CNS, CRF activates the sympathetic nervous system, raising plasma concentrations of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. These neuro-mediator and endocrine variations modify the activity of central nervous structures, mainly hypothalamic (endocrine) and hippocampic (emotion) formations, inducing many homeostatic perturbations. Stress also causes marked alterations in the immune function. In chronically noise-stressed patients, a comparative clinical study showed a significant increase of the plasmatic STH, but no modification of others biological parameters. Some psychosomatic disorders and also a psychological unbalance were seen in these patients. The final response to a stressful event will either be no or certain specific chemical and physiological changes which will depend greatly on the ability of the individual to cope with the outside stimuli.
Subject(s)
Neurosecretory Systems/physiopathology , Noise/adverse effects , Stress, Physiological/etiology , Humans , Stress, Physiological/physiopathologyABSTRACT
We have applied the electroshock-induced fighting behavior to the study of experimental alcohol dependence. Adult Wistar rats were intoxicated chronically with ethanol (10 g/kg/24 h) for 13 days. Electroshock-induced fighting behavior was studied during chronic intoxication and withdrawal in comparison with normal rats receiving a water-carbohydrate solution isocaloric to ethanol. Rats were divided into groups receiving respectively muscimol (0.25 mg/kg), a GABAA agonist; homotaurine (140 mg/kg) a GABA mimetic; and physiological saline (10 ml/kg), intraperitoneally. During chronic intoxication, rats showed an increase in defensive-fighting behavior. Withdrawal accentuated the aggressive behavior and muscimol and homotaurine inhibited it. These results confirm the relevance of the electroshock-induced defensive fighting behavior test in chronic intoxication with alcohol, but to show the involvement of GABAergic transmission in the behavioral effects of alcohol withdrawal, additional experiments with other GABA mimetics and with GABA antagonists should be considered.
Subject(s)
Aggression/drug effects , Alcoholism/psychology , Muscimol/pharmacology , Taurine/analogs & derivatives , Animals , Body Weight/drug effects , Electroshock , Ethanol/blood , Male , Rats , Rats, Inbred Strains , Taurine/pharmacology , gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/physiologyABSTRACT
Waking and sleep states were studied in the alcohol-dependent rat after administration of ethanol (416 mg/kg/hr) by indwelling intragastric catheter (IGC) for 13 days. Electropolygraphic recordings performed for a total of 24 hr from the start of withdrawal were compared with those of control rats receiving water by IGC and showed 1) that rapid eye movement sleep was the most sensitive of the four vigilance states studied. A decrease was noted both for the total duration of recording and for the light period; 2) that nonactive wakefulness was the only vigilance state to show an inversion of percentages between the light and dark period; 3) that the light period was the best time for studying changes in vigilance states. Changes included increased percentages of active and nonactive wakefulness and decreased percentages of slow-wave and rapid eye movement sleep. This was due to a change in the number of episodes rather to a change in their mean duration. No significant change occurred during the dark period.
Subject(s)
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium/psychology , Alcoholism/psychology , Arousal/drug effects , Circadian Rhythm/drug effects , Animals , Cerebral Cortex/drug effects , Electroencephalography/drug effects , Ethanol/pharmacokinetics , Evoked Potentials/drug effects , Male , Rats , Rats, Inbred Strains , Sleep Stages/drug effects , Wakefulness/drug effectsABSTRACT
The authors assess the results of several studies, fundamental or clinical with therapeutic tests, to demonstrate a possible role of prostaglandins--specially of a possible lack of PGE1--in the pathogeny of certain forms of schizophrenia. The heterogeneousness of the results leads one to think there's heterogeneousness of the illness. Meanwhile, in certain cases, the contribution of a direct precursor of PGE1 the GLA, has given possible noticeable clinical results, mainly with deficiency symptoms.
Subject(s)
Prostaglandins E/physiology , Schizophrenia/etiology , Humans , Prostaglandins E/deficiency , Schizophrenic PsychologySubject(s)
Estradiol/pharmacology , Sexual Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Male , RatsSubject(s)
Aggression/physiology , Brain/physiopathology , Neurotransmitter Agents/physiology , 5-Hydroxytryptophan/therapeutic use , Aggression/drug effects , Animals , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Brain/drug effects , Hormones/physiology , Humans , Mice , Neurotransmitter Agents/pharmacology , RatsSubject(s)
Adjustment Disorders/drug therapy , Antidepressive Agents , Depressive Disorder/drug therapy , Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/therapeutic use , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Bipolar Disorder/drug therapy , Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy , Female , Hormones/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , SyndromeABSTRACT
The G.H. response to the insulin hypoglycaemia (Sachar test) is studied as differential diagnose test between endogenous and neurotic depressions in 14 patients. No correlation is seen between either a decreased response and endogenous depressive state, or an increased response and the neurotic depression. However, the great level of a response seems a good criterium to give the evolution prognostic of the depression state: the more G.H. response is high, the more the depression is fast curable.
Subject(s)
Adjustment Disorders/physiopathology , Depressive Disorder/physiopathology , Growth Hormone/blood , Insulin , Schizophrenia/physiopathology , Adolescent , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The possible actions of hormones on the central nervous system are yet poorly known. The relationships between hormonal disturbances and affective disorders are very difficult to interpret. Now, the more usual hypothesis on the pathogeny of these affective disorders is a dysfunction of catecholaminergic neuromediation. In this view, different hormonal anomalies can be involved: participation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adreno-cortical axis, hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis, hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadic axis and intervention of growth-hormone axis. These different explanations are supported by some experimental and clinical data but none is really predominant. In this paper, the modifications of growth-hormone responses in some affective disorders are shown as very interesting and permitting some precisions in etiologic diagnosis of some affective disorders.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder/metabolism , Hormones/metabolism , Depressive Disorder/complications , Endocrine System Diseases/etiology , Female , Gonads/metabolism , Growth Hormone/metabolism , Humans , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/metabolism , Hypothyroidism/metabolism , Pituitary-Adrenal System/metabolism , Thyroid Gland/metabolismABSTRACT
Purpose of this paper is to point out the interest in case of post-concussional syndroma following an head or whiplash injury to practice both: a posturographic examination objectiving the functioning of the different sensori-motor systems who maintain the body equilibrium giving an approach of the possibility of an organic etiology, psychiatric one giving the psychogenic aspect. Different therapeutics are proposed in regard of this double approach. Four cases illustrate this purpose.
