In the present study we have examined the effects of androgens and estrogens on circulating arginine vasopressin (AVP). Adult male Wistar rats had serum AVP levels of 0.4 microU/ml. Two weeks after bilateral castration, AVP rose to 2.6 microU/ml, but daily testosterone administration (100 microgram/100 g BW) to the castrate males prevented the AVP increase (0.8 microU/ml). During a normal estrous cycle, adult female Wistar rats had AVP values of 0.6 microU/ml during diestrus, 4.6 microU/ml on the morning of proestrus, 1.3 microU/ml on the afternoon or proestrus, and 1.5 microU/ml on the day of estrus. These changes in AVP paralleled the presumed changes in serum estradiol. Two weeks after bilateral ovariectomy of the adult female rats, AVP was 1.4 microU/ml but daily estradiol injections (100 microgram/100 g BW) to the castrate females produced a rise of serum AVP to 5.0 microU/ml. The results suggest an androgen inhibition and an estrogen stimulation of serum AVP levels.

Scleredema diabeticorum is characterized by a dramatic increase in the thickness of the skin of the posterior neck and upper back. Of the 17 scleredema patients diagnosed by us in the last 15 yr, 16 have had type II diabetes mellitus. In a prospective study of 484 diabetic outpatients we found the prevalence of scleredema to be 2.5%. Angina pectoris was the only complication that occurred significantly more frequently in scleredematous diabetic patients than in a control group of diabetic patients without scleredema. Scleredema diabeticorum is a distinct cutaneous condition peculiar to diabetic individuals and ought not to be confused with scleredema of Buschke or scleroderma.

No abstract

PHYSIOL BEHAV 35(4) 591-595, 1985 --Behaviorally induced stress is associated with increased arginme vasopressln (AVP) secretion. In this report we describe a phasic conditioned response of AVP secretion yielding 2.6--7.1 times normal plasma concentration of this hormone m assocmtlon w~th a physmlog~cal state of decreased activation, that associated with the mental technique of "transcendental meditation" (TM) in long-term practltmners (6-8 years of regular elicitation) Such a very large phastc response of AVP was previously unknown m the normal physmlogy of AVP. This elevation was not accompanied by elevatmn of plasma osmolality. Unstyllzed ordinary eyes closed rest in a separate group of subjects studied in the same manner was associated with normal plasma AVP concentration. Galvanic skin resistance (GSR) increased dunng both TM and rest with significantly larger increase assocmted with TM. Other measures of activation, including muscle metabolism, and the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory indicated marked relaxatmn in associatmn with TM. In previous research it has been shown that blood pressure does not change acutely dunng th~s behavmr. These observations in&cate that neither stress nor operatmn of other usual homeostatic control mechamsms are responsible for elevated for AVP in the meditators. It is speculated that the apparently unique mechanism of TM-mduced AVP secretion may be more specifically related to the behavmral effects of meditatmn. [5,7,8] and, more specifially, the acquisition and retention of adaptive behavior patterns [4,8]. Additional reported effects of AVP in humans suggest psychotherapeutic and behavior-modifying properties [9,34] as well as improvement of attentional processes [ 1]. Implicit in many of these reports is the notion that naturally occurring modification of existing, or acquisition of new behavior patterns may be facilitated by an increase of endogenous AVP activity centrally and/or peripherally. However, except for states of stress, potentiation of AVP secretion associated with behavior modification or adaptation has not been demonstrated. The purpose of the present study was to determine if long-term, regular practice of the technique of "transcendental meditation" (TM), reported to induce numerous behavioral changes [10,12,16,22,28], may be associated with altered secretion of AVP. This behavior, elicited twice daily in the morning and evening for 20--40 minute periods by the regular practitioner, is associated with major physiologic changes in long-term subjects [17][18][19]. Hormones METHODTwelve subjects, six long-term meditation practitioners (5-10 year instructors of TM) and six non-meditating individuals ("ordinary rest" group), were studied. All subjects were normal, university educated individuals and did not use tobacco, alcohol or regular medication. Their ages ranged 1Requests for reprints should be addressed to R. Jevning, Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of Califorma, Irvine, Irvme, CA 92717. The additional point for the TM group represent...

No abstract