[Morphofunctional features of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system in experimental cerebral abscess]

The morphological characteristics of the hypothalamo-pituitary neurosecretory system (HPNS) were studied in 123 rats with an experimental abscess in the temporal area of the brain. It was found that changes in the HPNS in this pathology ran 2 stages corresponding to the periods of the development of the pyoinflammatory process in the cerebral tissue. In the first period (at the 3rd-10th day of the development of a cerebral abscess) the functional activity of the HPNS was inhibited: a decrease in both synthesis and excretion of neurohormones was evident. The mortality rate at this period was the highest (21 of 23 rats). At the second period (the 15th-30th day of experiment) there was an increase in the activity of neurosecretory nuclei and a decrease in the mortality rate (2 rats). It is suggested that the absence of NPNS activation was one of the causes of the high mortality rate at the first period of the experiment which was related to the direct damaging action of the abscess localized in the cerebral portions having the direct impact on the neurosecretory system.