Plasma interleukin-1beta, prolactin, ACTH and corticosterone responses to endotoxin after damage of the anterior hypothalamic area

Reduced response of splenocytes after mitogen-stimulation in the prion protein (PrP) gene-deficient mouse: PrPLP/Doppel production and cerebral degeneration

Splenocytes of wild-type (Prnp(+/+)) and prion protein gene-deficient (Prnp(-/-)) mice were treated with various activation stimuli such as T cell mitogen concanavalin A (ConA), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)+ionomycin (Io), or B cell mitogen lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) expression was enhanced following ConA stimulation, but not PMA+Io or LPS in Prnp(+/+) splenocytes. Rikn Prnp(-/-) splenocytes elicited lower cell proliferations than Prnp(+/+) or Zrch I Prnp(-/-) splenocytes after LPS stimulation and showed sporadic nerve cells in the cerebral cortex and deeper structure. Around the degenerated nerve cells, mild vacuolation in the neuropil was observed. This neural alteration correlated well to the suppressed response of B cells in the spleen. The finding that discrete lesions within the central nervous systems induced marked modulation of immune function probably indicates the existence of a delicately balanced neural-endocrine network by PrP(C) and PrPLP/Doppel.

Lesion of the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) reduces hypothalamic activation and hypophyseal hormone secretion induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats

This study examined whether electrolytic ablation of the periventricular anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) region would affect the hypothalamic activation and the increase of hypophysial hormone secretion induced by systemic injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats. LPS significantly increased the number of cells showing Fos immunoreactivity in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei of the hypothalamus (P<0.05) and also increased plasma levels of vasopressin, oxytocin, adrenocorticotropin and corticosterone (P<0.05). AV3V lesion significantly reduced LPS-induced Fos immunoreactivity (P<0.05) and vasopressin and oxytocin secretion (P<0.05). Elevations in adrenocorticotropin but not in plasma corticosterone after LPS were affected by prior AV3V lesions. These findings demonstrate that LPS-induced Fos expression in the PVN and SON, and hypophysial hormone secretion is dependent on the integrity of the AV3V region.

Complementary therapies to reduce physiological stress in pregnancy

Pregnancy is a period of enormous physio-pathological and psychosocial adaptation in a woman's life. Although it is usually a time of joy and anticipation, many women experience some degree of anxiety, concern and fear regarding their own health and that of their babies, as well as the approaching labour. Worry about social, financial, occupational and relationship issues can often add to their stress levels which increases the possibility of pregnancy complications. However while mild to moderate stress facilitates successful adjustment to these demands, a significant increase in the levels of stress hormones may compromise the health of both mother and fetus. Complementary therapies are increasingly popular with expectant mothers and are gradually being integrated into conventional maternity care, primarily by midwives. However, there is debate about whether these therapies simply provide a form of relaxation for pregnant women with psychological stress or whether they could-or should-be used more constructively to deal with physio-pathological stress. This paper considers the physiological effects of certain complementary therapies in reducing the impact of stress in pregnancy.