Effect of superior cervical ganglionectomy on 24-h variations in hormone secretion from the anterior hypophysis and in hypothalamic monoamine turnover during the preclinical phase of Freund's adjuvant arthritis in rats.

The effect of superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGx) on 24-h rhythms of circulating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), growth hormone (GH), prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) and of hypothalamic noradrenaline content and dopamine and serotonin turnover, was assessed in rats 3 days after administering Freund's complete adjuvant. In sham-operated rats, Freund's adjuvant injection increased serum ACTH without affecting its diurnal rhythmicity. SCGx, performed 10 days earlier, suppressed 24-h rhythmicity and augmented mean values of circulating ACTH. A depressive effect of immunization on GH release was found in both sham-operated and SCGx rats. GH concentrations did not exhibit diurnal rhythmicity and decreased after immunization. Time-of-day-related changes in serum prolactin were significant for all examined groups, except for SCGx-immunized rats. Freund's adjuvant administration augmented prolactin secretion. Daily changes in serum LH concentration and a decrease after immunization were found in both sham-operated and SCGx rats. SCGx: (i) counteracted inhibition of daily variations of noradrenaline content in medial hypothalamus of Freund's adjuvant-injected rats; (ii) decreased anterior hypothalamic dopamine turnover and augmented it in the medial hypothalamus; (iii) lowered amplitude of serotonin turnover rhythm in medial hypothalamus. The data indicate that several early changes in levels and 24-h rhythms of circulating ACTH and prolactin, and in hypothalamic noradrenaline content and dopamine and serotonin turnover, were modified by a previous SCGx in Freund's adjuvant-injected rats.