THE PLASMA-LEVELS OF ACTH FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO STRESS OR NICOTINE

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 264  (1) , 154-167
Abstract
Plasma ACTH and corticosterone profiles were measured following the i.p. injection of nicotine or ACTH, or following exposure of rats to unpredictable stress. The elevation in plasma corticosterone was biphasic in nature in all cases, whereas plasma ACTH levels demonstrated only a single peak which rapidly declined to a sustained plateau level. The adrenal cortex may exert a differential response to a single plasma peak in ACTH. The level of ACTH during its plateau phase may effect the duration rather than the magnitude of the corticosterone elevation. The differences between the ACTH and corticosterone profiles, resulting from the 3 different stimuli, are discussed.