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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.
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Updated: May 10, 2026

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds
10:07

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds

Published on: November 6, 2015

A consensus endocrine profile for chronically stressed wild animals does not exist.

Molly J Dickens1, L Michael Romero

  • 1Department of Integrative Biology, Valley Life Sciences Bldg, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. m.dickens@berkeley.edu

General and Comparative Endocrinology
|July 3, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Identifying chronically stressed wild animals is challenging, as research shows no consistent endocrine profile. Glucocorticoid (GC) responses vary greatly, making generalized predictions unreliable for wildlife health assessments.

Keywords:
Chronic stressConservationCorticosteroneGlucocorticoidsHypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axisStress response system

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Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds
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Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress in Rats based on the Mongolian medicine
05:56

Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress in Rats based on the Mongolian medicine

Published on: October 27, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Wildlife physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Stress biology

Background:

  • Chronic stress in wild animals is linked to health issues, often studied in relation to human disturbances.
  • Identifying chronically stressed wildlife is difficult, with a common but unproven assumption of increased glucocorticoid (GC) levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine a generalized "endocrine profile" for chronically stressed wild animals by reviewing existing literature.
  • To assess empirical data on glucocorticoid function, negative feedback, and body weight in response to chronic stress.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review of studies measuring baseline GC, stress-induced GC, integrated GC, negative feedback, HPA axis sensitivity, and body weight.
  • Studies were ranked for relevance to wild animals and scored based on GC response direction (increase, decrease, or no change) to chronic stress.

Main Results:

  • Significant variation exists across studies, refuting a generalized endocrine profile for chronically stressed wild animals.
  • GC responses are influenced by the type of stressor, potential for habituation, and species (taxon).
  • Common predictions of GC response are based on theory, not empirical data.

Conclusions:

  • A consistent, predictable endocrine response to chronic stress in wild animals does not exist.
  • Documenting changes across multiple levels of GC regulation is key, but the direction of change is less important than the fact of change.
  • Future research should consider the variability in GC responses influenced by stressor type, habituation, and species.