Endocrine influence on disease outcome: experimental findings and implications

The psychosocial environment may impose stressor effects on animal and man. Adaptation to these environmental changes requires behavioural, autonomic, neuroendocrine, metabolic, etc. processes. The neuroendocrine system plays a key role in the integration of these processes. Experimental evidence obtained in the rat suggests that neuropeptides related to ACTH, endogenous opioids and their fragments, vasopressin, etc., but also oestrogens may selectively influence the form and magnitude of acute cardiac response to emotional stressors. Dichotomies between the behavioural and cardiac responses may occur too. It is suggested that neuroendocrine action on brain mechanisms that are involved in the organization of behavioural and bodily responses to stressors are important in physiological adaptation. Neuroendocrine disturbances (two much or too little neuropeptides and other hormones) may thereby contribute to the outcome of psychosomatic diseases.