help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wittert, G. A.
Right arrow Articles by Espiner, E. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wittert, G. A.
Right arrow Articles by Espiner, E. A.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 75, 750-755, Copyright © 1992 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Vasopressin, corticotrophin-releasing factor, and pituitary adrenal responses to acute cold stress in normal humans

GA Wittert, HK Or, JH Livesey, AM Richards, RA Donald and EA Espiner
Department of Endocrinology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Acute cold stress is a consistent stimulus to ACTH secretion in rats yet inhibits arginine vasopressin (AVP) in both rats and humans. We have studied the interrelationships of AVP, corticotrophin-releasing factor, and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in the hypothalamo- pituitary-adrenal response to acute cold stress in normal humans. Six healthy male volunteers deprived of food and fluid for 6 h, and minimally clothed, were studied in the early afternoon. After a 30-min period at 22 C, subjects were exposed to cold stress (4 C for 30 min), followed by a 30-min equilibration period at 22 C. By the end of the period of cold exposure there was a fall in plasma volume of 7.8 +/- 1.4% (mean +/- SEM), a significant increase in both systolic blood pressure (P = 0.0001) and in plasma norepinephrine level (P = 0.0001), but no change in plasma epinephrine or in plasma ANF. Plasma AVP levels fell significantly (P less than 0.01) to reach a nadir at 5-10 min after cold exposure before returning to baseline levels. A significant fall in plasma cortisol levels occurred during the first 15 min of the baseline period and remained stable thereafter. No significant changes in plasma corticotrophin-releasing factor or ACTH occurred. These results suggest that cold inhibition of AVP release, presumably via afferent baroreceptor pathways, may act to reduce the response of the corticotrophs to a potentially noxious stimulus. Inhibition of AVP and/or ACTH during acute cold exposure are not dependent upon an increase in plasma ANF.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosi.Home page
J. M. Silver and K. Anderson
Vasopressin Treats the Persistent Feeling of Coldness After Brain Injury
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, May 1, 1999; 11(2): 248 - 252.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
K. Pacak, M. Palkovits, G. Yadid, R. Kvetnansky, I. J. Kopin, and D. S. Goldstein
Heterogeneous neurochemical responses to different stressors: a test of Selye's doctrine of nonspecificity
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 1998; 275(4): R1247 - R1255.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1992 by The Endocrine Society