Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
Physiological Foundation of Stress01:24

Physiological Foundation of Stress

Stress triggers a coordinated physiological response involving the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This dual activation ensures that the body is prepared for both immediate and prolonged stress management. The process begins with the perception of a stressor. This initial phase activates the SNS, leading to the rapid release of adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal glands.
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
Components of Stress01:23

Components of Stress

Stress analysis under multiple loading conditions is intricate, necessitating a comprehensive grasp of normal and shearing stresses. Consider a small cube at point O, subjected to stress on all six faces, visible or not. Normal stress components σx, σy, σz act perpendicularly to the x, y, and z axes. Shearing stress components τxy and τxz are exerted on faces perpendicular to these axes.
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and opposite to those on the...
Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
Stress Response System01:21

Stress Response System

The stress response system, also known as the fight-or-flight response, is the body's automatic physiological reaction to perceived threats. Hans Selye introduced the concept of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) to describe the predictable pattern of changes that occur in response to stress. GAS consists of three sequential stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. This model helps explain how chronic stress can contribute to health problems.
Alarm stage
In the alarm stage, the body's initial...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Glyoxal fixation is applicable to whole-brain serial section imaging in mice.

Journal of pharmacological sciences·2026
Same author

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) promotes regeneration of corneal epithelial cells possibly via the NR4A1 signaling pathway.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Differential Neuronal Development in iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cells From Monozygotic Twin Cases With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia and Discordant Responses to Clozapine.

Neuropsychopharmacology reports·2026
Same author

Astrocyte-vascular interactions are disturbed in cerebral white matter of adult-onset neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease.

Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology·2026
Same author

Neuron-specific overexpression of human vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 in mice causes cognitive dysfunction and abnormal dendritic morphology in the prefrontal cortex.

Journal of pharmacological sciences·2026
Same author

Delayed response of the median raphe serotonin neurons projecting to the ventral hippocampus to aversive stimuli.

Journal of pharmacological sciences·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
07:26

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm

Published on: May 4, 2020

PACAP is implicated in the stress axes.

Hitoshi Hashimoto1, Norihito Shintani, Mamoru Tanida

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. hasimoto@phs.osaka-u.ac.jp

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|April 29, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) regulates stress responses in the brain and body. This neuropeptide influences anxiety, fear, and autonomic functions, impacting overall homeostasis.

More Related Videos

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice
07:13

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

Published on: October 24, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
07:26

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm

Published on: May 4, 2020

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice
07:13

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

Published on: October 24, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide involved in neurotransmission, neuromodulation, and neurotrophic functions.
  • PACAP plays a key role in regulating central and peripheral stress axes, particularly during prolonged or traumatic stress.
  • PACAP and its receptors are expressed in brain regions and tissues critical for stress-related responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying PACAP-dependent stress responses.
  • To explore the psychiatric implications of PACAP's role in stress-related psychopathology.
  • To elucidate PACAP's function in regulating autonomic function and maintaining peripheral homeostasis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on PACAP's role in stress axes.
  • Analysis of PACAP's expression and function in relevant brain regions and peripheral tissues.
  • Examination of PACAP's influence on anxiety, fear, and autonomic nervous system activity.

Main Results:

  • PACAP is essential for sustained epinephrine secretion in the sympathoadrenomedullary system during metabolic stress.
  • PACAP centrally regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system via the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.
  • PACAP influences anxiety- and fear-related behaviors, with altered expression in pathological conditions.

Conclusions:

  • PACAP is a critical regulator of both central and peripheral stress responses.
  • PACAP modulates autonomic function, promoting sympathetic activity and contributing to homeostasis.
  • PACAP's involvement in stress-related behaviors suggests a role in gene-environment interactions and psychopathology.