Catecholaminergic regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical activity

The significance and site of adrenergic receptors involved in the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) activity was assessed indirectly by estimation of serum corticosterone levels 1 h after drug administration to conscious rats. Adrenergic drugs were given intracerebroventricularly (icv) and intraperitoneally (ip), the antagonists 15 min prior to the agonists. Noradrenaline, adrenalin and isoproterenol given by either route increased dose-dependently the serum corticosterone levels. The corticosterone response to icv noradrenaline was almost abolished by icv pretreatment with propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist, and yohimbine, and alpha 2-receptor blocker, and was also considerably reduced by prazosin, an alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist. When given ip, these antagonists did not significantly influence the noradrenaline induced corticosterone response, which suggests a suprapituitary site of action of noradrenaline in stimulation of the HPA. The corticosterone response to icv adrenalin was suppressed by prazosin given by either route. The corticosterone response to ip adrenalin was almost abolished by pretreatment with yohimbine, and also significantly diminished by propranolol given by the same route. The increase in corticosterone secretion, induced by isoproterenol given by either route, was abolished by ip injection of propranolol. These results indicate that noradrenaline stimulates the HPA via alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors, mainly at the suprapituitary level. Adrenalin increases that activity both via central and pituitary alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors. Isoproterenol activates the HPA by stimulation of pituitary beta-receptors.