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Effect of ovarian hormones and estrous cycle on stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis by cocaine.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Walker, QD; Francis, R; Cabassa, J; Kuhn, CM
Published in: J Pharmacol Exp Ther
April 2001

Cocaine is known to exert sexually dimorphic HPA axis effects in rats and to disrupt estrous cyclicity and/or fertility in rats, nonhuman primates, and humans. The present studies investigated the reciprocal interactions between ovarian hormones and HPA axis responses to cocaine. Thirty minutes after injection, cocaine (15 mg/kg i.p.) increased serum ACTH and corticosterone more in cycling than ovariectomized females or male rats. ACTH and corticosterone were highest in proestrus when estradiol was elevated. Cocaine did not alter serum estradiol in females or testosterone in males but did stimulate progesterone secretion in both sexes. Cocaine-stimulated progesterone secretion was significantly greater in females than in males or ovariectomized females, and greater in proestrous than diestrous 1 rats. Cocaine stimulated corticosterone and progesterone secretion in sham-adrenalectomized, but not adrenalectomized rats, indicating that the adrenal gland and not the ovary is the source of cocaine-stimulated progesterone. Estrogen influenced cocaine-stimulated progesterone secretion more than corticosterone, suggesting different release mechanisms for the two steroids in the adrenal. These results suggest that adrenally derived progesterone could contribute to cocaine-induced physiological changes, including inhibited gonadotropin release.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Pharmacol Exp Ther

ISSN

0022-3565

Publication Date

April 2001

Volume

297

Issue

1

Start / End Page

291 / 298

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Progesterone
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • Ovariectomy
  • Male
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
  • Female
  • Estrus
 

Citation

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Walker, Q. D., Francis, R., Cabassa, J., & Kuhn, C. M. (2001). Effect of ovarian hormones and estrous cycle on stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis by cocaine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 297(1), 291–298.
Walker, Q. D., R. Francis, J. Cabassa, and C. M. Kuhn. “Effect of ovarian hormones and estrous cycle on stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis by cocaine.J Pharmacol Exp Ther 297, no. 1 (April 2001): 291–98.
Walker QD, Francis R, Cabassa J, Kuhn CM. Effect of ovarian hormones and estrous cycle on stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis by cocaine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2001 Apr;297(1):291–8.
Walker, Q. D., et al. “Effect of ovarian hormones and estrous cycle on stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis by cocaine.J Pharmacol Exp Ther, vol. 297, no. 1, Apr. 2001, pp. 291–98.
Walker QD, Francis R, Cabassa J, Kuhn CM. Effect of ovarian hormones and estrous cycle on stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis by cocaine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2001 Apr;297(1):291–298.

Published In

J Pharmacol Exp Ther

ISSN

0022-3565

Publication Date

April 2001

Volume

297

Issue

1

Start / End Page

291 / 298

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Progesterone
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • Ovariectomy
  • Male
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
  • Female
  • Estrus