Neuroendocrine dysfunction

The increased prevalence of polycystic ovary sjmdrome associated with valproate has been reviewed [386 ]. The risk seems to be higher in women with epilepsy than in women with bipolar disorders, and this might be due to underljdng neuroendocrine dysfunction related to the seizure disorder. 

Tyson, J. E., Andreasson, B., Huth, J. Smith, B. and Zacur, H. (1975) Neuroendocrine dysfunction in galactorrhea-amenorrhea after oral contraceptive use. Obstet. Gynec., 46,1. 

As noted earlier, the only other method presently available for detecting serotonergic dysfunction in living humans involves neuroendocrine challenge with serotonin-active drugs (Cowen and Anderson 1976). One such... 

Francis GS, Benedict C, Johnstone DE, Kirlin PC, Nicklas J, Liang CS, Kubo SH, Rudin-Toretsky E, Yusuf S (1990) Comparison of neuroendocrine activation in patients with left ventricular dysfunction with and without congestive heart failure a substudy of the studies of left ventricular dysfunction (SOLVD). Circulation 82 1724-1729... 

Interestingly, while peripheral neuroendocrine function appears normal in patients with panic disorder, decreased basal cortisol concentrations have been reported in most studies in PTSD patients. This relative hypocortisolism occurs in the context of increased feedback inhibition of the HPA axis (see Yehuda, 2000). However, a dissociation between central and adrenocortical (re)activity has been found in animal models of severe early-life stress as well as in abused children and women, suggesting that adrenal dysfunction may, at least in part, contribute to hypocortisolism in PTSD. In the face of hypocortisolism, it seems surprising that hippocampal atrophy is one of the most prominent findings in patients with PTSD, including adult survivors of childhood abuse with PTSD (see Newport and Nemeroff, 2000). While increased glucocorticoid sensitivity of hippocampal cells may play a role in the development of hippocampal atrophy, another potential mechanism may involve toxic effects of markedly increased cortisol responses to everyday stress in patients with PTSD. 

Meaney, M.J., Aitken, D.H., Bhatnagar, S., and Sapolsky, R.M. (1991) Postnatal handling attenuates certain neuroendocrine, anatomical, and cognitive dysfunctions associated with aging in female rats. Neurobiol Aging 12 31-38. 

Carroll BJ, Curtis GC, Mendels J Neuroendocrine regulation in depression. 1 limbic system—adrenocortical dysfunction. Arch Gen Psychiatry 33 1039-1044, 1976b Carroll BJ, Curtis GC, Mendels J Neuroendocrine regulation in depression, 11 discrimination of depressed from nondepressed patients. Arch Gen Psychiatry 33 1051-1058, 1976c... 

Farooqi IS, Matarese G, Lord GM, Keogh JM, Lawrence E, Agwu C, Sanna V, Jebb SA, Perna F, Fontana S, Lechler RI, DePaoli AM, O Rahilly S (2002) Beneficial effects of leptin on obesity, T cellhyporesponsiveness, and neuroendocrine/metabolic dysfunction of human congenital leptin deficiency. J Clin Invest 110 1093-1103... 

Mishima K, Okawa M, Hozumi S, Hishikawa Y (2000) Supplementary administration of artificial bright light and melatonin as potent treatment for disorganized circadian rest-activity and dysfunctional autonomic and neuroendocrine systems in institutionalized demented elderly persons. Chronobiol Int 17 419-432... 

Prevot V, DeSeranno S, Estrella C. 2004. Glial-neuronal-endothelial interactions and the neuroendocrine control of GnRH secretion. In Non-Neuronal Cells of the Nervous System Function and Dysfunction, Elsevier, Amsterdam pp. 99-214. 

Numerous neuroendocrine biomarkers correlate with severity of cardiac dysfunction. Heart failure is associated with increase in peripheral vascular resistance due to increases in sympathetic tone, norepinephrine, renin, angiotensin II, arginine vasopressin, and endothelin-1. The increased venous pressure causes atrial distension that stimulates production and release of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP) from the atria and ventricles, respectively. ANP inhibits the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. In humans and mammals, BNP has been found to be an early biomarker of left ventricular hypertrophy developing with doxorubicin cardiotoxicity, congestive heart failure, or occult dilated cardiomyopathy (Erkus et al. 2006 Walker 2006 Oyama, Sisson, and Solter 2007). 

Multiple neuroendocrine and metabolic finks exist between arterial hypertension and hypothyroidism. Metabolic and neuroendocrine alterations may be associated with arterial hypertension, inducing both adjunctive cardiovascular risk and vascular, cerebral, renal and cardiac pathologies (so-called hypertensive target organ damage ). A hypothyroid dysfunction may interact with all these factors and conditions. 

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