Effects of spaceflight on hypothalamic peptide systems controlling pituitary growth hormone dynamics

Sawchenko, P. E.; Arias, C.; Krasnov, I.; Grindeland, R. E.; Vale, W.

Possible effects of reduced gravity on central hypophysiotropic systems controlling growth hormone (GH) secretion were investigated in rats flown on Cosmos 1887 and 2044 biosatellites. Immunohistochemical (IHC)staining for the growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), somatostatin (SS), and other hypothalamic hormones was performed on hypothalami obtained from rats. IHC analysis was complemented by quantitative in situ assessments of mRNAs encoding the precursors for these hormones. Data obtained suggest that exposure to microgravity causes a preferential reduction in GRF peptide and mRNA levels in hypophysiotropic neurons, which may contribute to impared GH secretion in animals subjected to spaceflight. Effects of weightlessness are not mimicked by hindlimb suspension in this system.

Document ID

19920068870

Document Type

Reprint (Version printed in journal)

Authors

Sawchenko, P. E. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)

Arias, C. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)

Krasnov, I. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)

Grindeland, R. E. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)

Vale, W. (Salk Institute for Biological Studies; Clayton Foundation for Research, La Jolla; NASA, Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA; Institute of Biomedical Problems, Moscow, Russia)

Date Acquired

August 15, 2013

Publication Date

August 1, 1992

Publication Information

Publication: Journal of Applied Physiology, Supplement

Volume: 73

Issue: 2 Au

ISSN: 8750-7587

Subject Category

Funding Number(s)

Distribution Limits

Public

Other

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server