[Calcium-dependent mechanisms of stress disorders and noradrenergic responses of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system in neonatally androgenized female rats].

The effects of neonatal administration ofverapamil, a calcium L-type channel blocker, on the stress and noradrenergic responses of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in adult female rats with anovulatory syndrome induced by neonatal androgenization have been studied. There was no adrenocortical response to an acute stress nor noradrenaline infusion in the 3rd brain ventricle in females with persistent estrus. Verapamil pretreatment completely restored the adrenocortical responses to normal level. No changes were found in studied parameters following treatment with verapamil alone. These results demonstrate possible involvement of calcium signalling in pathogenesis of the disorders of HPA function in adult female rats, induced by neonatal androgenization.