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Glucocorticoid responses to stress in castrate and testosterone-replaced rams

Authors :
Dawood, Tye
Williams, Maro R.I.
Fullerton, Meryl J.
Myles, Kathy
Schuijers, Johannes
Funder, John W.
Sudhir, Krishnankutty
Komesaroff, Paul A.
Source :
Regulatory Peptides. Feb2005, Vol. 125 Issue 1-3, p47-53. 7p.
Publication Year :
2005

Abstract

Abstract: Stress is an important contributor to cardiovascular disease and to reduced immunity and fertility. As the role of androgens in stress is uncertain, we investigated the effects of testosterone (T) on hormonal responses to stress in conscious Romney Marsh wethers. Six T-treated sheep and six control sheep were stressed by exposure to a psychological and a metabolic stimulus. Baseline glucose levels were significantly lower in the treated animals compared with controls (p=0.002). T treatment significantly attenuated ACTH (p<0.01) and cortisol (p<0.05) responses to metabolic stress. Following psychological stress, ACTH responses were significantly lower in treated sheep compared with controls (p<0.05), but differences in mean cortisol responses did not reach significance. There were no significant differences in epinephrine or norepinephrine responses following either stressor. We conclude that T replacement in wethers lowers glucose and attenuates responses to metabolic and psychological stress. While the implications of these results for human physiology require further studies, they suggest that male hypogonadism may play a role in determining the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
01670115
Volume :
125
Issue :
1-3
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Regulatory Peptides
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
15561623
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regpep.2004.07.030