Nociceptin (Orphanin FQ) abolishes gestational and ovarian sex steroid-induced antinociception and induces hyperalgesia

Nociceptin (Orphanin FQ) is a newly discovered endogenous heptadecapeptide substrate for the opioid-receptor-like 1 receptor, a G protein coupled receptor that bears striking amino acid sequence homology to opiate receptors. In rats, intrathecal (i.t.) administration of nociceptin is without effect on basal thresholds for responsiveness to electric foot shock. However, during either late gestation or its hormonal simulation, when nociceptive thresholds are elevated by approximately 70%, i.t. nociceptin substantially attenuates jump thresholds in a dose-dependent fashion. This hypoalgesic effect of nociceptin is not limited to attenuating the gestational or sex steroid-induced increment in pain thresholds. Following the highest i.t. dose of nociceptin employed (20 nmol), the gestational or sex steroid-induced increment in jump thresholds is not only abolished but a significant hyperalgesia is observed. These results underscore the importance of the hormonal milieu to nociceptin hypoalgesic sensitivity. The potential contribution of spinal nociceptive pathways that utilize nociceptin to the etiology of extraordinary painful pregnancy and labor should not be ignored.     

Changes of circulating TNF and its effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa septic shock in rabbits

Itiswellknownthatcertaincytokinesplayapivotalroleinthedevelopmentoftraumaandshock.Tumornecrosisfactor(TNF)isapolypep-tiedcytokinesynthesizedinmonocytesandmacrophagesinresponsetolipopolysaccharide(LPS)stimulation-TherelationshipbetweenTNFandendotoxic-septicshockbecomesafocusoftheresearchofshockmediators[1'2].Alargeamountofexperimentalandclinicaldata[3-9JsuggestthatTNFplaysanimportantroleinthepathogenesisofendotoxic-septicshockbuttheprecisemechanismandtherelationshipofTNFtoshockseverityrem…     

The effects of running and meditation on beta-endorphin, corticotropin-releasing hormone and cortisol in plasma, and on mood

The relations between three hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, beta-endorphin (β-EP), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and cortisol, and mood change were examined in 11 elite runners and 12 highly trained meditators matched in age, sex, and personality. Despite metabolic differences between running and meditation, we predicted that mood change after these activities would be similar when associated with similar hormonal change. Compared to pre-test and control values, mood was elevated after both activities but not significantly different between the two groups at post-test. There were significant elevations of β-EP and CRH after running and of CRH after meditation, but no significant differences in CRH increases between groups. CRH was correlated with positive mood changes after running and meditation. Cortisol levels were generally high but erratic in both groups. We conclude that positive affect is associated with plasma CRH immunoreactivity which itself is significantly associated with circulating β-EP supporting a role for CRH in the release of β-EP. Increased CRH immunoreactivity following meditation indicates, however, that physical exercise is not an essential requirement for CRH release.     

急性中风中脏腑证型与垂体-肾上腺轴激素关系的研究

目的 :探讨急性中风中脏腑证型与垂体—肾上腺轴激素的促肾上腺皮质激素 (ACTH)、皮质醇 (CS)的关系。方法 :对 78例中脏腑患者进行辨证分型 ,同时利用放射免疫分析 (RIA)法测定血中 ACTH、CS含量 ,按证型分为四组 ,对比不同证型间 ACTH、CS的水平 ,并与健康人组 (60例 )作对照。结果 :ACTH、CS含量水平比较 :1四种证型的 ACTH、CS均比正常健康人组高 (P <0 .0 0 1 ) ;2四种证型间比较有明显差异 (P<0 .0 1 ) ,从高到低为 :痰热内闭心窍证 >风火上扰清窍证 >痰湿蒙塞心神证 >元气败脱、心神散乱证。结论 :ACTH、CS含量水平可作为判别中脏腑不同证型间的微观指标     

眼镜蛇人蛰前、蛰眠期和出蛰后血清激素与能量物质代谢的关系

本文研究眼镜蛇入蛰前、蛰眠期及出蛰后血清 T_3,T_4和皮质醇水平与体内能量物质的含量变化关系,探讨其与蛰眠行为的关系。结果表明入蛰前眼镜蛇大量摄食储能过冬,由于血清激素水平降低,控制了体内组织器官的氧化代谢系统,使新陈代谢逐渐下降。蛰眠期血糖血脂明显下降,耗氧量显著减少,呈节能低代谢状态。此期血清激素水平已升高,但低温抑制了体内代谢。出蛰后血清激素水平明显升高且在春暖升温季节使眼镜蛇代谢率升高。     

Benign intracranial hypertension and recombinant growth hormone therapy in Australia and New Zealand

Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) is reported in three children from Australia and one from New Zealand, who were being treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Three males and one female, aged between 10.5 and 14.2 y, developed intracranial hypertension within 2 weeks to 3 months of starting treatment. A national database, OZGROW, has been prospectively collecting data on all 3332 children treated with rhGH in Australia and New Zealand from January 1986 to 1996. The incidence of BIH in children treated with growth hormone (GH) is small, 1.2 per 1000 cases overall, but appears to be greater with biochemical GHD (<10IUml ^-1), i.e. 6.5/1000 (3 in 465 cases), relative risk 18.4, 95% confidence interval 1.9-176.1, than in all other children on the database. The incidence in patients with Turner's syndrome was 2.3/1000 (1 in 428 cases). No cases in patients with partial GHD (10–20 IUml ^-1) or chronic renal failure were identified. Possible causative mechanisms are discussed. The authors'practice is now to start GH replacement at less than the usual recommended dose of 14IUm-² week^-1 in those children considered to be at high risk of developing BIH. Ophthalmological evaluation is recommended for children before and during the first few months following commencement of rhGH therapy and is mandatory in the event of peripheral or facial oedema, persistent headaches, vomiting or visual symptoms. The absence of papilledema does not exclude the diagnosis.     

Flumazenil exerts intrinsic activity on sleep EEG and nocturnal hormone secretion in normal controls

The physiological function of benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptors includes regulation of sleep and neuroendocrine activity. Most of the pharmacological effects of BDZ are blocked by flumazenil. However, recent neurological and behavioral studies suggest that flumazenil has its own central intrinsic activity. This issue was addressed in a study of the sleep EEG and the nocturnal secretion of growth hormone and cortisol in ten normal male controls, who were given flumazenil either alone or in combination with the BDZ agonist midazolam, placebo and midazolam alone. Flumazenil prompted an increase in sleep onset latency, a decrease in slow wave sleep and an increase in wakefulness. Plasma cortisol concentrations after flumazenil administration were lower than after midazolam. Both flumazenil and midazolam decreased nocturnal growth hormone secretion. After simultaneous application of both BDZ receptor ligands the growth hormone blunting was amplified. Our study demonstrates that at the level of the sleep EEG and neuroendocrine activity flumazenil is capable of exerting both agonistic and inverse agonistic or antagonistic effects.Parts of this study were presented at the 69th Meeting of the Deutsche Physiologische Gesellschaft, Freiburg, 6–8 March, 1991     

Effect of pindolol on endocrine and temperature responses to buspirone in healthy volunteers

Ten healthy subjects received buspirone (30 mg orally) with and without pre-treatment with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, pindolol (80 mg over 3 days). Following pindolol treatment the growth hormone and hypothermic responses to buspirone were significantly decreased. There was also a delay in the onset of the prolactin response to buspirone but the total amount of prolactin secretion, calculated as area under the curve, was not significantly reduced. The data suggest that the growth hormone and hypothermic responses to buspirone in humans are mediated by 5-HT1A receptors, but an explanation founded on pharmacokinetic factors cannot presently be excluded. Both this latter possibility and the lack of selectivity of pindolol for 5-HT receptors indicate the need for the further neuroendocrine studies of the mode of action of buspirone, preferably with more selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonists.     

Human Y-79 retinoblastoma cells express functional corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors

In human Y-79 retinoblastoma cells corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) produces a marked and rapid increase of adenylate cyclase activity. The concentration of the peptide producing half-maximal stimulation is 60 nM. The effect of CRH is significantly antagonized by the specific CRH receptor antagonist alpha-helical CHR 9-41 and is mimicked by sauvagine and urotensin I, two peptides displaying sequence homology with CRH. These results demonstrate the presence of functional CRH receptors in human Y-79 retinoblastoma cells and suggest that this cell line may be a suitable model in which to study the action of CRH on human retinal cell function.     

对500名广州妇女关于激素替代疗法态度的调查

【目的】了解广州妇女对激素替代疗法 (HRT)的态度。【方法】对 5 0 0名妇女进行面对面的问卷调查 ,记录她们对绝经症状以及激素替代疗法的认识和态度。【结果】 5 9%的妇女认为对绝经症状应该求医 ,41%妇女采取消极忍耐的态度 ,76 2 %的人选择妇科就诊 ,19 8%的妇女选择内外科或精神科 ;仅有 2 2 1%的妇女听说过HRT。绝经后妇女应用HRT的有5 9% ,2 4 4%的人不知道HRT的益处 ,知道可以预防骨质疏松和心血管疾病的分别有 17 8%和 10 8% ,5 9 8%的人不知道HRT的副作用 ,13 6 %的人不知道在哪科医生的指导下应用HRT ,40 4%的人不知道何时开始应用HRT。【结论】我们认为广州妇女的围绝经期保健意识不强 ,对HRT的了解很少 ,对HRT的利弊认识不足 ,有必要开展这方面的科普教育工作。