Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Hypercortisolism and its possible neural bases.

R M Sapolsky¹, P M Plotsky

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, California 94305-5020.

Biological Psychiatry

|May 1, 1990

Summary

Biological psychiatrists study dexamethasone (DEX) resistance and hypercortisolism in neuropsychiatric disorders. Research suggests these endocrine abnormalities may stem from neural dysregulation within the complex adrenocortical axis.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Corrigendum to "Forced swimming-induced oxytocin release into blood and brain: Effects of adrenalectomy and corticosterone treatment" [Psychoneuroendocrinology 77 (2017) 165-174].

Psychoneuroendocrinology·2017

Same author

Basolateral amygdala regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and fear-related activation of newborn neurons.

Molecular psychiatry·2011

Same author

Adverse experience during early life and adulthood interact to elevate tph2 mRNA expression in serotonergic neurons within the dorsal raphe nucleus.

Neuroscience·2009

Same author

Pathways to the secretion of adrenocorticotropin: a view from the portal*.

Journal of neuroendocrinology·2009

Same author

Lack of correlation between immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor concentration profiles in hypophysial-portal and peripheral plasma.

Journal of neuroendocrinology·2009

Same author

SK2 potassium channel overexpression in basolateral amygdala reduces anxiety, stress-induced corticosterone secretion and dendritic arborization.

Molecular psychiatry·2009

Area of Science:

Neuroendocrinology
Psychiatry
Endocrinology

Background:

Biological psychiatrists are interested in dexamethasone (DEX) resistance and hypercortisolism in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Endocrine abnormalities in these disorders are increasingly used as diagnostic and prognostic markers.
The complex adrenocortical axis involves CNS control, shifting hormonal sensitivities, and feedback regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review data on the neural basis of DEX resistance and hypercortisolism.
To propose models for how neural defects cause these endocrine abnormalities, drawing from rodent literature.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on DEX resistance and hypercortisolism.
Analysis of data suggesting neural involvement in endocrine defects.
Examination of rodent models to understand mechanisms.

Main Results:

Hypercortisolism in affective disorders, anorexia nervosa, Alzheimer's disease, and chronic stress is not uniform.
Elevated basal cortisol and DEX resistance can occur independently or together.
These endocrine abnormalities are suggested to be, at least partly, neural in origin.

Conclusions:

The endocrine dysregulation seen in various neuropsychiatric conditions likely has a significant neural component.
Understanding these neural mechanisms is crucial for developing better diagnostic and prognostic tools.
Further research into rodent models can elucidate the pathways underlying DEX resistance and hypercortisolism.

Related Experiment Videos