Repeated adrenocorticotropic hormone administration alters adrenal and thyroid hormones in free-ranging elephant seals.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the physiological response of marine mammals to anthropogenic stressors can inform marine ecosystem conservation strategies. Stress stimulates the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and synthesis of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones, which increase energy substrate availability while suppressing energy-intensive processes. Exposure to repeated stressors can potentially affect an animal's ability to respond to and recover from subsequent challenges. To mimic repeated activation of the HPA axis by environmental stressors (or challenges), we administered adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to free-ranging juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris; n = 7) once daily for 4 days. ACTH administration induced significant elevation in c

SUBMITTER: McCormley MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6048993 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature