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Horm Behav

Title:		The pituitary mediates production or release of an alarm chemosignal in rats
Author(s):		Abel EL;
Address:		"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201"
Journal Title:		Horm Behav
Year:		1994
Volume:		28
Issue:		2
Page Number:		139 - 145
DOI:		10.1006/hbeh.1994.1011
ISSN/ISBN:		0018-506X (Print) 0018-506X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Rodent alarm chemosignals elicit various behavioral and physiological responses in conspecifics. This study employed a bioassay method, using a modification of the forced swim test, to demonstrate that the pituitary mediates production and/or secretion of an alarm chemosignal in rats subjected to stress. This was shown by comparing the immobility times of rats in water soiled by hypophysectomized and sham-treated rats. Rats tested in water soiled by sham-treated rats exhibited very little immobility (the alarm chemosignal effect), whereas rats tested in water soiled by hypophysectomized rats exhibited considerably more immobility. The alarm chemosignal effect was restored in hypophysectomized rats by administration of ACTH. This is the first study to identify mediation of an alarm chemosignal in mammals"
Keywords:		Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/physiology Animals Arousal/*physiology Escape Reaction/physiology Fear/*physiology Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiology Male Motivation Motor Activity/physiology Pheromones/*metabolism Pituitary Gland/*physiology Pituitary;
Notes:		"MedlineAbel, E L eng 1994/06/01 Horm Behav. 1994 Jun; 28(2):139-45. doi: 10.1006/hbeh.1994.1011"