[Stress. Neuroendocrine aspects]

Abstract

All kind of stress produce an endocrine response. These hormonal responses can serve as stress indicators. The main peripheral endocrine responses to stress are the activation of adrenal corticoids, the stimulation of Growth Hormone (GH) and prolactin secretion, and the inhibition of insulin and gonadal secretion. Except for the inhibition of insulin release, all these hormonal variations depend on the adenohypophysis activity: stimulation of Adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH), GH and prolactin, and inhibition of gonadotrophins (LH-FSH) secretions. Several lines of evidence demonstrate that specific hypothalamic Neuro-hormones stimulate or inhibit the hypophysial activity in response to stress. However, due to methodological difficulties, only measurements of peripheral hormones can be used as stress indicators.