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We have studied the control of the pituitary-adrenal axis in ovariectomized sheep following hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection (HPD) by following plasma levels of immunoreactive (ir-) products of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). In ovariectomized HPD ewes, gonadotropin levels were below detection limits. In contrast, levels of ir-ACTH were modestly but significantly elevated over those in matched ovariectomized control ewes, though cortisol levels were not significantly different; levels of ir-alpha MSH and ir-beta EP (beta-endorphin) were substantially and significantly raised in HPD compared with control plasma. Size exclusion HPLC showed plasma beta EP/beta LPH (beta-lipotropin) levels to be higher in HPD than control ewes. Dexamethasone administration lowered plasma ir-ACTH but not ir-beta EP; in contrast, bromocriptine lowered ir-beta EP but not ir-ACTH. We interpret these data as evidence (1) that the elevated plasma levels of ir-beta EP and ir-alpha MSH post-HPD reflect the release of the intermediate lobe from tonic inhibitory dopaminergic control and (2) that, unlike the gonadotrope, hypothalamic releasing factors are not required for the maintenance of the corticotrope, or for baseline secretion of ACTH from these cells.
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
January 1990,
Neuroendocrinology,
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
March 1988,
The Biochemical journal,
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
August 1988,
The Journal of endocrinology,
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
September 1986,
Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme,
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
September 1988,
Journal of molecular endocrinology,
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
March 1984,
Developmental biology,
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
April 1983,
Regulatory peptides,
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
January 1986,
The Journal of endocrinology,
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
January 1985,
Regulatory peptides. Supplement,
I J Clarke, and
J A Clements, and
J T Cummins, and
F Dench, and
A I Smith, and
P M Robinson, and
J W Funder
January 1984,
Pharmacology & therapeutics,
