Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Pharmacology
. 1976 Feb;56(2):235–239. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1976.tb07447.x

Hypothalamo-pituitary adrenocortical function in the rat after treatment with betamethasone.

J C Buckingham, J R Hodges
PMCID: PMC1666873  PMID: 175875

Abstract

1 Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activity was suppressed in rats treated with betamethasone. 2 Recovery of normal HPA function occurred after corticosteroid withdrawl. 3 Although corticotrophin release was rapidly restored to its basal rate there was a delay in the return of the normal adrenocorticotrophic response to stress and normal adrenocortical function was evident only after the plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone had reached 'supra-normal' levels. 4 The physiological significance and possible clinical relevance of the results are discussed.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alaghband-Zadeh J., Daly J. R., Bitensky L., Chayen J. The cytochemical section assay for corticotrophin. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1974 Jul;3(3):319–327. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1974.tb01805.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Buckingham J. C., Hodges J. R. Interrelationships of pituitary and plasma corticotrophin and plasma corticosterone during adrenocortical regeneration in the rat. J Endocrinol. 1975 Dec;67(3):411–417. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0670411. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Buckingham J. C., Hodges J. R. Interrelationships of pituitary and plasma corticotrophin and plasma corticosterone in adrenalectomized and stressed, adrenalectomized rats. J Endocrinol. 1974 Oct;63(1):213–222. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0630213. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Chayen J., Loveridge N., Daly J. R. A sensitive bioassay for adrenocorticotrophic hormone in human plasma. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1972 Jul;1(3):219–233. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1972.tb00393.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Daly J. R., Myles A. B., Bacon P. A., Beardwell C. G., Savage O. Pituitary adrenal function during corticosteroid withdrawal in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 1967 Jan;26(1):18–25. doi: 10.1136/ard.26.1.18. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. GRABER A. L., NEY R. L., NICHOLSON W. E., ISLAND D. P., LIDDLE G. W. NATURAL HISTORY OF PITUITARY-ADRENAL RECOVERY FOLLOWING LONG-TERM SUPPRESSION WITH CORTICOSTEROIDS. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1965 Jan;25:11–16. doi: 10.1210/jcem-25-1-11. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. HODGES J. R., VERNIKOS J. The effects of hydrocortisone on the level of corticotrophin in the blood and pituitary glands of adrenalectomized and of stressed adrenalectomized rats. J Physiol. 1960 Mar;150:683–693. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1960.sp006411. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. HOLUB D. A., JAILER J. W., KITAY J. I., FRANTZ A. G. Direct and indirect estimation of pituitary adrenocorticotropin reserves in man following adrenal steroid therapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1959 Dec;19:1540–1552. doi: 10.1210/jcem-19-12-1540. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hicklin J. A., Wills M. R. Plasma "cortisol" response to Synacthen in patients on long-term small-dose prednisone therapy. Ann Rheum Dis. 1968 Jan;27(1):33–37. doi: 10.1136/ard.27.1.33. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hodges J. R., Hotston R. T. Suppression of adrenocorticotrophic activity in the ascorbic acid deficient guinea-pig. Br J Pharmacol. 1971 Aug;42(4):595–602. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1971.tb07143.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hodges J. R., Mitchley S. Recovery of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function in the rat after prolonged treatment with betamethasone. Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Dec;40(4):732–739. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1970.tb10650.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hodges J. R., Mitchley S. The effect of 'training' on the release of corticotrophin in response to minor stressful procedures in the rat. J Endocrinol. 1970 Jun;47(2):253–254. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0470253. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hodges J. R., Mitchley S. The effect of betamethasone on circadian and stress-induced pituitary-adrenocortical function in the rat. Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Apr;38(4):719–724. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1970.tb09879.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hodges J. R., Sadow J. Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function in the rat after prolonged treatment with cortisol. Br J Pharmacol. 1969 Jul;36(3):489–495. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1969.tb08005.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Knol K. The function of the adrenal glands during prolonged corticosteroid therapy. Scand J Respir Dis Suppl. 1969;68:41–48. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Purves H. D., Sirett N. E. Assay of corticotrophin in dexamethasone-treated rats. Endocrinology. 1965 Aug;77(2):366–374. doi: 10.1210/endo-77-2-366. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. TREADWELL B. L., SALVAGE O., SEVER E. D., COPEMAN W. S. Pituitary-adrenal function during corticosteroid therapy. Lancet. 1963 Feb 16;1(7277):355–358. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(63)91383-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. ZENKER N., BERNSTEIN D. E. The estimation of small amounts of corticosterone in rat plasma. J Biol Chem. 1958 Apr;231(2):695–701. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Zimmermann E., Critchlow V. Effects of intracerebral dexamethasone on pituitary-adrenal function in female rats. Am J Physiol. 1969 Aug;217(2):392–396. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1969.217.2.392. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of The British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES