Abstract
The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS) as well as the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis adapt to various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The period of late pregnancy, for instance, is characterized by an attenuated responsiveness of the HPA axis to emotional and physical stressors (8), whereas, in contrast to lactation (6), the activity of the oxytocinergic system as part of the HNS is only slightly reduced (1, 8). The process of aging, on the other hand, is accompanied by an increased activity of the vasopressinergic system, mostly revealed by immunohistochemical studies on human brain tissue (9) and by in situ hybridization in aged rats (4). This could cause dysregulation of the HPA axis not only in aged rats (2), but also in aged subjects and patients suffering from psychiatric diseases (3). However, results on vasopressin (AVP) secretory responses of the HNS to various stimuli are rather contradictory.
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References
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© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Neumann, I., Wigger, A., Hatzinger, M., Keck, M.E. (1998). Pregnancy and Aging. In: Zingg, H.H., Bourque, C.W., Bichet, D.G. (eds) Vasopressin and Oxytocin. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 449. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4871-3_21
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