Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The hypothesis that ECT produces selective effects on hypothalamic-pituitary activity was investigated by determining the effect of ECT on pituitary hormone release in nine depressed patients. After ECT there were massive and rapid increases in the plasma concentrations of nicotine- and oestrogen-stimulated neurophysin (NSN and ESN), prolactin (PRL) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), smaller increases in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and cortisol, a significant decrease in plasma growth hormone (GH) concentration but no change in plasma thyrotropin (TSH). There was significant attenuation of PRL responses with repeated ECT. The hormonal responses to ECT cannot simply be attributed to stress, since a similar pattern of increases in plasma hormone concentrations did not occur in psychologically normal patients in whom plasma hormone concentrations were measured during induction of anaesthesia and abdominal incision for cholecystectomy. Analysis of these hormonal responses in terms of the knowledge available on the neurotransmitter control of pituitary hormone release suggests that some of these hormonal responses to ECT may be mediated by the activation of serotonergic neurones, while others are probably due to direct stimulation of the neuroendocrine neurones themselves.
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PMID:Selective effects of ECT on hypothalamic-pituitary activity. 303 82

The binding sites for [125I]LHRH were characterized in membranes from the hypthalamus and the effect of estrogen on the binding characteristics was studied in ovariectomized female rats. The radioligand, [125I]LHRH, was found to bind specifically to membranes from the hypothalamus at a maximal level, with an optimal temperature of 0 degrees C and a pH between 7 and 8. The binding was enhanced by NaCl at a concentration of 0.1-0.2 M. The specifically bound [125I]LHRH was only displaced by LHRH, but not by sodium iodide (NaI), bovine serum albumin and other hormones, such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone, bradykinin, oxytocin, prolactin, luteinizing hormone and growth hormone. The divalent metal ions, copper (Cu2+) and mercury (Hg2+), inhibited the specific binding of [125I]LHRH completely, whereas magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) caused a decrease in binding. As revealed from Scatchard plot analysis, the binding sites for [125I]LHRH in the hypothalamus had a dissociation constant of 0.40 +/- 0.03 microM and the maximum number of binding sites was 98.55 +/- 4.34 pmol/mg protein. Treatment of female rates (ovariectomized for 3 weeks) with 4 micrograms of estradiol benzoate caused a statistically significant decrease in the maximal number of binding sites without any significant effect on the dissociation constant. However, the direct addition of estradiol hemisuccinate to the membrane preparations had no statistically significant effect on the specific binding of [125I]LHRH. The present study provides the evidence that estrogen decreases the density of binding sites for [125I]LHRH in the hypothalamus in vivo.
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PMID:The effect of estrogen on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone binding sites in hypothalamic membranes. 331 92

Basal plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) were monitored in both normal and estradiol-primed male rats by the collection of sequential blood samples from freely moving rats, via chronic intraatrial cannulae. Blood was sampled every 2 min for a period of 80 min and plasma GH levels determined by radioimmunoassay. The normal male rats displayed a pulsatile release of GH, while the estradiol-primed male rats exhibited a relatively steady level of plasma GH concentration. The rats exposed to high levels of estradiol (1.59 +/- 0.42 nmol/l plasma) also had a higher mean value of basal GH concentration. An injection of 100 micrograms/kg of bovine neurophysin II did not alter GH release in the normal male rats. However, it did significantly elevate GH levels in the estradiol-primed animals to a mean peak level approximately six times the mean basal level. The administration of 100 micrograms/kg of bovine neurophysin I to estradiol-primed male rats did not produce any change in plasma GH levels and thus eliminates the possibility of the nonspecific stimulation of neurophysin II on GH release.
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PMID:Bovine 'neurophysin II' stimulates growth hormone release in the estradiol-primed male rat. 334 67

The present study examines the effects of auditory stress on the plasma levels of pituitary hormones and cortisol. Each of twelve healthy male subjects participated in two experimental series; during one of them they were exposed to 85 dB(A) industrial noise from 9:00 to 21:00 h. Blood samples were taken by an indwelling venous catheter for 24 h at intervals of 20 min from 8:00 to 8:00 h. The plasma levels of ACTH, growth hormone, prolactin, oxytocin, vasopressin and cortisol were determined. In all subjects except one noise stress affected the profiles of the pituitary hormones but the responses were interindividually different. The oxytocin level was significantly elevated (p less than .01), ACTH also responded but less clearly, whereas the other hormones reacted only in individual cases. During the subsequent night sleep only PRL concentrations were elevated above the baseline plateau in several subjects. It was concluded that in humans the pituitary responses to noise stress are highly individual.
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PMID:Effects of daytime noise load on the sleep-wake cycle and endocrine patterns in man: II. 24 hours secretion of anterior and posterior pituitary hormones and of cortisol. 341 Jun 40

Since neuroimmunomodulation is brought about in part, at least, by secretion of pituitary hormones involved in stress and immune responses, we review briefly the hypothalamic control of the release of ACTH, growth hormone, and prolactin. The release of ACTH is controlled particularly by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), but vasopressin has intrinsic releasing activity and potentiates the action of CRF at both hypothalamic and pituitary levels. Oxytocin may even potentiate the action of CRF, but has little, if any, ACTH-releasing activity by itself. In addition, epinephrine may augment responses to the CRFs. In contrast, growth hormone is under dual control by growth-hormone-releasing factor (GRF) and somatostatin, and prolactin is under multifactorial control by a series of inhibitors and stimulators. Dopamine is accepted as a physiological prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF), but probably GABA and possibly acetylcholine as well are PIFs. There is good evidence for a peptide PIF as well. There are a number of prolactin-releasing factors (PRFs) which include oxytocin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, PHI and TRH. Several other peptides can also release prolactin, including angiotensin II. In response to stress there is a complex interaction of peptides intrahypothalamically. CRF augments its own release by an ultra short-loop positive feedback, and there is negative ultra short-loop feedback of GRF and somatostatin. Vasopressin appears to augment CRF release as well as to act directly on the pituitary, and there are complex interactions of various peptides to influence prolactin and GH release.
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PMID:The role of brain peptides in neuroimmunomodulation. 347 67

A systematic endocrine investigation in dementia, depression and control subjects showed that plasma growth hormone (GH) was higher in the morning and plasma TSH concentrations were higher throughout the day in Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD) than in age-matched depressed patients (MDD), and plasma TSH concentrations were also higher throughout the day in female ATD compared with age-matched female control subjects. The increased plasma TSH concentrations could not be due to reduced negative feedback because plasma T3, T4 and rT3 were in the normal range. Plasma concentrations of oestrogen-stimulated neurophysin (ESN) were lower throughout the day in ATD compared with MDD and controls and lower in the morning compared with other dementias. The high plasma GH and TSH concentrations in ATD may reflect the reduced hypothalamic content of somatostatin in ATD, and the reduced concentrations of ESN may reflect reduced cholinergic activity in ATD brain. These selective hormonal changes provide a useful diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease.
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PMID:Characteristic plasma hormone changes in Alzheimer's disease. 365 5

Numerous studies have identified specific areas in which the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy may occur including fetal growth retardation, neonatal deaths, pregnancy complications leading to premature delivery and possible effects on lactation and long-term effects on surviving children. Despite the number of papers which have been published on this subject there is still no clear understanding of the extent to which smoking in general, and various components of cigarette smoke in particular, exert a detrimental effect on the human reproductive potential. Although epidemiological evidence is scanty there are indications that cigarette smoking decreases fertility in women, increases the frequency of menstrual abnormalities and decreases the age of spontaneous menopause. Cigarette smoking in males has also been implicated as a cause of decreased sperm numbers and an increased frequency of abnormal sperm morphology as well as a decrease in sexual performance. Experimental evidence from humans and rodents suggests that nicotine can alter the hypothalamic-pituitary axis through its stimulation of growth hormone, cortisol, vasopressin and oxytocin release which in turn inhibit luteinizing hormone and prolactin release.
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PMID:Smoking and reproductive health. 391 Feb 12

Attention is focused on the similarities in primary structure of the egg-laying neurohormone of the pulmonate Lymnaea stagnalis and of the opisthobranch Aplysia californica which both consist of 36 amino acid residues. FMRFamide-like peptides have now been isolated and sequenced from six molluscan species. Besides FMRFamide, two closely related peptides were isolated from the central nervous system of L. stagnalis and sequenced. This indicates that a family of FMRFamide-like peptides exist not only in the molluscs, but also within one species. A molluscan growth hormone, isolated from the brain of L. stagnalis, has been characterized. This small peptide hormone stimulates in vitro a receptor-adenylate cyclase system of mantle edge cells and in vivo the Ca2+-incorporation in the shell edge. The biochemical characterization of three vertebrate-like peptides of L. stagnalis, resembling oxytocin, Arg-vasopressin, and insulin, confirms the immunological findings that gastropods contain peptides which are structurally closely related to mammalian peptides.
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PMID:Molecular properties of various snail peptides from brain and gut. 391 18

Marked decline of red cell metabolism has been described during the acute state of decreased activation associated with the stylized mental technique of transcendental meditation (TM) in long-term meditators (5-10 years regular elicitation, TM instructors). It is not known whether unstylized rest is accompanied by a similar effect and it is not known what effector(s) may contribute to red cell metabolic changes in these states. In the present study ordinary, unstylized rest was found to be accompanied by small increase of red cell glycolytic rate. Apparently, either repeated elicitation of TM behavior or some special feature of this practice become associated with new mechanisms of metabolic control than those previously in operation. Although the data of this study do not permit isolation of the precise psychological determinants of this effect, the range of possible physiological effectors can be delimited. Blood pH, PCO2, PO2, and phosphate can be eliminated as significant for red cell metabolic control during both TM and rest, and based upon related studies, several known hormones such as insulin, T3, T4, arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, prolactin and growth hormone can also be eliminated as responsible effector(s).
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PMID:Modulation of red cell metabolism by states of decreased activation: comparison between states. 393 73

Nausea was induced by having subjects smoke two high nicotine cigarettes in quick succession. Plasma levels of prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin, growth hormone, arginine vasopressin, and neurophysin I increased without changes in thyroid stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, or follicle stimulating hormone. Nausea and pituitary hormone release correlated with high nicotine intake (smoking 2.87 mg nicotine cigarettes) but did not occur during lower nicotine intake (smoking 0.48 mg nicotine cigarettes). Individual differences in nausea and related hormonal responses may provide an objective method for predicting receptivity to smoking.
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PMID:Pituitary hormone response to cigarette smoking. 394 62


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