[Effect of excess and deficit of hormones of the pituitary-adrenal system on drinking behavior in the rat].

In rats, effects of hormonal disbalance of the pituitary-adrenal axis on formation, extinction and subsequent restoration of conditioned drinking response were studied. The hypophysectomia accelerated learning of this response whereas administration of ACTH retarded its extinction. In 45 days after extinction, a significant deficit of the habit retrieval was observed in hypophysectomized rats. The time of the conditioned response actualization increased in animals treated with ACTH or dexamethasone. The findings are discussed in the light of the hypothesis suggesting that hormonal balance of pituitary-adrenal system is important for the processes of consolidation and for retention of conditioned responses.