Levels of adrenal and gonadal hormones in rhesus monkeys during chronic hypokinesia.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic immobilization on the hypophysial-adrenal and hypophysial-gonadal axes of adult male rhesus monkeys and the effect such manipulation has on the ability of these axes to respond to exogenous corticotropin, gonadotropin, and GnRH administration. A comparison was also made of the effects of immobilization on testosterone secretion at periods of low (April) and high (November) gonadal activity in this animal. Adult male rhesus monkeys were immobilized in a horizontal position for periods of up to 20 days during March/April. The function of the hypophysial-adrenal and hypophysial-gonadal axes was studied by monitoring plasma levels of cortisol, 17-hydroxylated precursors, 11 deoxycortisol, and testosterone during the period of restraint. Groups of immobilized and control animals also received iv injections of ACTH, FSH, and LH or LHRH on day 18 of the experiment. An additional group of animals was immobilized for 20 days, but did not receive exogenous hormone treatment. This group was used for comparison of seasonal differences in testosterone secretion with another group of animals subjected to the same treatment in November. During the first 3 h of immobilization, levels of cortisol, 17-hydroxylated precursors, and 11-deoxycortisol increased markedly from initial levels. Cortisol levels remained elevated for 3 days, whereas levels of the other three adrenal hormones declined to near-initial levels within 24 h. Testosterone levels declined steadily during the first 6 h of immobilization in males studied at a time of high testicular activity (November), while an increase during the first hour of restraint followed by a decline during the next 3 days were observed in males studied during a period of low testicular activity (April). Animals injected with ACTH on day 18 of immobilization had cortisol levels similar to those of control animals, but other groups of animals restrained for a similar period exhibited a lower level of plasma testosterone than controls after the injection of FSH and LH or LHRH. These data suggest that adaptation to stress results in a reduced demand for corticosteroid production and that the adrenals of chronically stressed animals are capable of responding to exogenous corticotropin, or alternatively, the immobilization imposed was stressful for only a limited time, and after a few days, animals no longer reacted as in response to stress. Also, secretion of testosterone in male monkeys is markedly influenced by the functional state of the gonads at the time of stress initiation.