Parental divorce has not only been associated with negative long-term effects for children of divorce (CD), but also for adult children of divorce (ACD). ACD more often have poorer mental well-being than adult children of marriage (ACM). Neurological research further suggests that ACD have lower baseline levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol. However, research of Swedish ACD is extremely sparsely. Therefore, the study’s aim is to examine the possible long-term effects of Swedish ACD. Do ACD have lower well-being and experience more stress than ACM? A sample of 227 Swedish participants (81 ACD and 146 ACM) were included. The majority (75.7%) were between 18-30 years old, 157 females and 70 males. An online survey including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale (TSWLS), and questions about the parental divorce was distributed via social media. Independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA analysis were performed to compare ACD’s and ACM’s results. The study found that ACD rated their well-being (satisfaction with the past) (p ≤ .001), and stress (p ≤ .019), significantly lower than ACM. Moreover, female ACD perceived more stress than female ACM (p ≤ .010), and male ACD (p ≤ .015). The group between 10-14-year-old at the time of the divorce rated significantly lower well-being (past) (p ≤ .035). In conclusion, the study suggests that Swedish ACD also suffer from long-term effects of divorce. Future research ought to investigate the matter further. / Skilsmässa har inte bara visat negativa långsiktiga effekter för skilsmässobarn (CD), utan också för vuxna skilsmässobarn (ACD). ACD har oftare ett sämre mentalt välbefinnande än vuxna med gifta föräldrar (ACM). Neurologisk forskning vidare påvisar att ACD också har lägre grundnivåer av ”stresshormonet” kortisol. Forskning kring svenska ACD är extremt sällsynt. Därför är det studiens mål att undersöka de möjliga långsiktiga effekterna av svenska ACD. Har ACD ett längre välbefinnande och upplever mer stress än ACM? Ett urval av 227 svenska deltagare (81 ACD och 146 ACM) var inkluderade. Majoriteten (75.7%) var mellan åldrarna 18-30 år gamla, 157 kvinnor och 70 män. En online enkät innehållandes Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale (TSWLS), och frågor kring skilsmässan distribuerades via sociala medier. Independent t-tests och one-way ANOVA analyser tillämpades för att jämföra ACD:s och ACM:s resultat. Studien fann att ACD uppskattade att deras välbefinnande (tillfredställelse med det förflutna) (p ≤ .001), och stress (p ≤ .019) signifikant längre än ACM. Fortsättningsvis, en signifikant skillnad upptäcktes där kvinnliga ACD upplevde mer stress än kvinnliga ACM (p ≤ .010), och manliga ACD (p ≤ .015). Gruppen mellan åldrarna 10–14 år gamla vid skilsmässan uppgav ett signifikant längre välbefinnande (förflutet) (p ≤ .035). Sammanfattningsvis, studien påvisar att svenska skilsmässobarn också lider av långsiktiga effekter från skilsmässa. Framtida forskning bör undersöka området vidare.

This research project explores the contribution of prenatal stress to the pathogenesis of autism as a neurobiological developmental disorder. The neurobiological impact of stress prior to the 28th week of gestation might produce structural neural changes, specifically regarding the cerebellum, the brain stem and limbic pathways, including the hippocampal area, which concept relates closely to the pathogenesis of autism. In this research project a significant focus is placed on prenatal hipothalamic-pituary-adrenal (HPA) activity due to the HPA axis’ interactivity with cortisol, digoxin and serotonin, as these biochemicals are significantly implicated in programmed foetal development, postnatal cortical behaviour, postnatal learning, as well as in functional impairment of socialization, communication and imagery associated with autism. Based upon the rationale of this research project and the conceptualisation of the topic of interest, the research problem was formulated as follows: In what unique ways does prenatal stress contribute to the pathogenesis of autism as a neurobiological developmental disorder? Sub questions included: Did the mother of the dizygotic twins experience significant stress during the period of gestation? What structural brain differences can be observed among the dizygotic twins at hand of MR-imaging? To which periods of prenatal development can these structural differences be related? How do these differences account for sensory, motor, cognitive, and affective behavioural differences among the dizygotic twins? What plasma differences can be observed among the dizygotic twins at hand of blood sampling? How does elevation of pre- and postnatal glucocorticoids relate to plasma difference among the dizygotic twins? How do these plasma differences account for sensory, motor, cognitive, and affective behavioural differences among the dizygotic twins? This research project represents quantitative research. The mode of inquiry is non-experimental at hand of a single dizygotic twin study. The following data generating strategies were employed: clinical intake interviews, administration of a diagnostic stress inventory and the 16-PF Questionnaire, MR-imaging, and the collection of blood plasma pathology results. / Dissertation (M.Ed)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Bakgrund: Sömnproblem är ett utbrett problem och är oftast en del av vissa livsstilssituationer där jobb, familjeliv och sjukdom kan påverka sömnen negativt. Fysisk aktivitet är en strategi för att förbättra sömnen, men vid tillfällen där aktiv rörelse inte är möjlig kan avslappningstekniker användas. Yoga nidra, även kallad yogisk sömn, är en guidad meditationsteknik som involverar många olika avslappningstekniker. En effekt av yoga nidra tycks vara ökad parasympatisk aktivitet och minskad sympatisk aktivitet. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka yoga nidras påverkan på sömnen på vuxna individer.                                                                                                          Metod: En systematisk litteraturstudie baserad på vetenskapliga artiklar publicerade 2019-2024. Databaserna PubMed och Web of Science användes för litteratursökningen. Resultat: Sex artiklar mötte inklusionskriterierna. Samtliga studier var experimentella. Fem av studierna visade på signifikant förbättrad sömn efter upprepad intervention. En studie gav oförändrad effekt efter en yoga nidra session.                                  Slutsats: Resultatet från litteraturstudien tyder på att yoga nidra kan inverka positivt på sömnen om interventionen utförs kontinuerligt. Dock rådde heterogenitet bland artiklarna gällande studiens kvalitet, population och interventionens längd, vilket försvårar tolkning av resultat. Bättre och mer enhetliga studier samt fler deltagare behövs för att kunna påvisa ett samband. / Background: Sleep problems are widespread and are usually part of certain lifestyle situations where work, family life and illness can affect sleep negatively. Physical activity is one strategy to improve sleep, but relaxation techniques can be used when active movement is not possible. Yoga Nidra, or yogic sleep, is a guided meditation technique that involves many different relaxation methods. One effect of yoga nidra appears to be increased parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity. Aims: The study aimed to examine the effect of yoga nidra on sleep in adults. Methods: A systematic literature study based on scientific articles published 2019-2024. The literature search was done using Pub Med and Web of Science databases. Results: Six articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. All studies were experimental. Five of the studies showed significantly improved sleep after repeated intervention. One study found an unchanged effect after only one yoga nidra session. Conclusions: The results from the literature study indicate that yoga nidra may have a positive effect on sleep if the intervention is carried out over a period of time. However, there was heterogeneity among the articles regarding the study quality, population and intervention length, making it difficult to assess the results. Better and more unitary studies and more participants are needed to determine a connection.

La création de Facebook est venue changer la façon dont les gens interagissent, mais nous en savons peu sur les impacts de Facebook sur la santé et le bien-être. À l’heure actuelle, environ 90 % des adolescents sont actifs sur Facebook et la majorité l’utilise tous les jours. Sachant que l’adolescence est une période critique du développement et que lors de cette période les adolescents sont particulièrement vulnérables aux effets du stress, il importe de comprendre les facteurs pouvant entrainer une augmentation des hormones de stress chez les adolescents. Le but du présent mémoire était donc d’étudier la relation entre l’utilisation de Facebook chez les adolescents et des marqueurs de stress psychologique et physiologique. Pour ce faire, nous avons mesuré les hormones de stress chez 88 adolescents (41 garçons, 47 filles) âgés entre 12 et 17 ans. Les adolescents devaient remplir le ‘Social Network Survey’, un questionnaire mesurant différents facteurs associés à l’utilisation de Facebook et le ‘Child Depression Inventory’, qui mesure les symptômes de dépression. Les résultats suggèrent que ce n’est pas le temps passé sur Facebook qui est en lien avec le stress psychologique et physiologique, mais plutôt la nature de l’utilisation de Facebook. Pour les filles, c’est le nombre d’amis sur Facebook qui est relié à des hauts niveaux de cortisol, tandis que pour les garçons c’est le fait de s’exposer sur Facebook. Cette étude est la première à démontrer une association entre la nature de l’utilisation de Facebook et les niveaux d’hormones de stress chez des adolescents. / The creation of Facebook can change the way people interact, but we know little about the impact of Facebook on health and well-being. As of today, 90 % of adolescents are active on Facebook and most of them connect everyday. Adolescence is a critical period in childrens’ development and during this period they are particularly vulnerable to stress hormones. It is therefore important to understand factors that may cause an increase in stress hormones in adolescents. The goal of this Masters thesis was to determine the relation between Facebook utilization in adolescents and psychological and physiological markers of stress. In order to do so, we measured stress hormones in 88 adolescents (41 boys, 47 girls) aged between 12 and 17 years old. Adolescents where asked to fill out the Social Network Survey, a questionnaire measuring different factors related to Facebook utilization and the Child depression Inventory, measuring symptoms of depression. Results suggest that it is not the time spent on Facebook that is related to psychological and physiological stress but the nature of Facebook utilization. For adolescent girls, it is the number of Facebook friends that is associated with high levels of cortisol, whereas in adolescent boys it is the fact of exposing one-self on Facebook that is associated with high levels of cortisol. This study is the first to show an association between Facebook utilization and stress hormones in adolescents.

This thesis examines the influence of stress on the activity of hippocampal CA1 area. The main task was to determine whether the stress load affects the changes of the local metabolism of glucocorticoids, and whether the levels of corticosteroid receptors in the CA1 hippocampus are modulated in response to stress. In order to answer these questions, the experiments were carried out using three different rat strains - Fisher, Lewis and Wistar which differ in their activities of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Our results demonstrate that stress has no effect on expression of MR mRNA. Conversely, stress reduces the levels of GR mRNA in CA1 area of the dorsal hippocampus. Moreover, we confirmed that the Lewis and Wistar rats didn't change metabolism of glucocorticoids after stress response. By the Fisher rats increased levels of 11β-HSD1 mRNA expression and therefore increased the metabolism of corticosterone.

As interações entre o sistema nervoso central e os sistemas imune e endócrino são o objeto de estudo da psiconeuroimunologia. Protocolos de indução de estresse têm sido amplamente utilizados como métodos confiáveis de investigação da relação entre transtornos psiquiátricos, aspectos psicológicos, traços de personalidade, ansiedade e a resposta imune. O procedimento de simulação de falar em público (SFP) é um protocolo experimental validado que reconhecidamente é capaz de ativar o eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-adrenal (HPA) e produzir respostas de estresse em sujeitos humanos. Esse método foi utilizado para: 1) Comparar a reatividade imunológica de indivíduos com diagnóstico de fobia social com a de indivíduos sem qualquer diagnóstico psiquiátrico; 2) Investigar se ocorrem alterações imunes subseqüentes à exposição a um estressor agudo induzido em laboratório e 3) identificar e correlacionar parâmetros imunológicos com traços de personalidade, humor, níveis de ansiedade e medidas fisiológicas. Os traços de personalidade foram investigados por meio dos seguintes instrumentos: Inventário de Temperamento e Caráter (TCI), Escala de Afeto Positivo e Negativo (PANAS), Inventário de Ansiedade Traço (IDATE-T), Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI), Inventário de Estratégias de ?Coping? de Folkman e Lazarus e Adaptação da Escala de Percepção de Estresse (PSS). Os sintomas de ansiedade foram avaliados por meio da Escala Analógica Visual de Humor (VAMS), da Escala de Sintomas Somáticos (ESS) e do IDATE-Estado. As variáveis psicofisiológicas avaliadas foram pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), diastólica (PAD), batimentos cardíacos (BPM), resposta galvânica da pele (GSR) e temperatura. Os níveis plasmáticos de catecolaminas (adrenalina, noradrenalina e dopamina) e hormônios do eixo HPA (cortisol e ACTH) também foram dosados. Realizou-se a contagem de células imunes polimorfonucleares e mononucleares no sangue periférico e mediu-se a atividade citotóxica de células NK e neutrófilos. Dosou-se proteínas de fase aguda e imunoglobulinas (A, D, G, M e E) a produção de citocinas no sangue por ELISA e RT-PCR. Os dados foram submetidos a análises de variância para dados com medidas repetidas testando efeitos de grupo, sexo, momento experimental e interações. As correlações entre as variáveis foram testadas por regressões múltiplas e coeficientes de correlação de Pearson. Os resultados apontam que o SFP foi eficiente para induzir estresse e produzir alterações detectáveis em diversos dos parâmetros investigados. As diferenças entre fóbicos sociais e controles são significativas para traços de personalidade e atuam ao longo do tempo para as medidas psicofisiológicas. Alterações imunes e hormonais estiveram mais frequentemente associadas ao gênero do que ao grupo experimental, e afetaram mais homens. Além disso, as alterações imunes foram de pequena magnitude afetando componentes inespecíficos da resposta imune. Conjuntamente, os resultados apontam uma relativa ativação do eixo HPA em fóbicos mas que não corresponde a alterações imunes de mesma magnitude. Mais estudos com uma amostra maior e a investigação de outros parâmetros são necessários para compreender melhor como a fobia social afeta o sistema imune de homens e mulheres e investigar se as alterações podem aumentar a susceptibilidade a doenças nesse grupo de sujeitos. Uma vez que essa interação seja melhor compreendida poderá subsidiar estratégias mais adequadas para abordar e elaborar estratégias de prevenção e intervenção capazes de promover comportamentos saudáveis. / Interactions among the nervous, immune and endocrine systems are the object of study of Psychoneuroimmunology. Stress protocols have been broadly used as reliable means to investigate the relationship among psychiatric disorders, psychological aspects, personality traits, anxiety and immune response has been studied using these interactions. The Simulated Public Speaking (SPS) is a validated experimental procedure known to activate the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and produce stress responses in human subjects. This method was used to: 1) compare the immune reactions of individuals with a diagnosis of social phobia to that of individuals without any psychiatric diagnosis; 2) investigate if immune alterations occur subsequent to the exposure to an acute laboratory induced stressor; 3) identify and correlate immune parameters with personality traits, mood, anxiety levels and physiologic measures. Personality traits were investigated with Cloninger?s Temperament and Character?s Inventory (TCI), Positive and Negative Affects Scale (PANAS), State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI?T), Beck?s Depression Inventory (BDI), Lazarus?s Coping Strategies Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Anxiety symptoms were investigated along the procedure with the Bodily Symptoms Scale (ESS), STAI-E and the Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS). Psychophysiologic variables assessed were Systolic (PAS) and Diastolic (PAD) Blood Pressure, Heart Rate (BPM), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and temperature. Plasmatic circulating levels of cathecolamines (Adrenaline, Noradrenaline and Dopamine) and HPA axis hormones (Cortisol, ACTH) were assessed. Peripheral blood cell population counts were obtained for polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear cells. Cytotoxic activity of neutrophils and NK cells was assessed, as well as cytokine production by ELISA and RT-PCR. Acute phase proteins and immunoglobulins (A, D, G, M, and E) were dosed on peripheral blood. Data was submitted to variance analysis for data with repeated measures testing effects of group, sex, experimental moment and interactions on variables. Correlations among variables were tested by multiple regressions and Pearson?s correlation deltas. The results show SPS was efficient in inducing stress and produce detectable alterations in several of the parameters investigated. Differences between social phobics and controls are significant for personality traits and, along time for psychophysiologic measures. Hormonal and immune alterations were more often associated to gender rather than to the group subjects belonged to, with men being more susceptible to the procedure. Also, immune changes were of small magnitude, usually affecting inespecific components of the response. Together, the results point to a relatively higher activation of the HPA-axis in social phobics, but one that does not correspond to immune responses of the same magnitude. Further studies with a larger sample and investigation of other parameters are necessary to better understand how social phobia affects the immune system of men and women and to investigate if the alterations can increase susceptibility to diseases in this group of individuals. Once this interaction is better understood it may provide the basis for an improved design to approach and elaborate prevention/intervention strategies and promote healthy behaviours.

The aim of this thesis was to validate the use of infrared thermography (IRT) to non-invasively measure stress and/or pain in cattle. The main approach was to measure changes in heat emitted from superficial capillaries around the eye (referred to as eye temperature) in response to various aversive husbandry procedures used routinely on farms. In addition, various exogenous challenges were given to investigate the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in regulating the eye temperature response. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that an increase in eye temperature was due to HPA activity in cattle. A rapid drop in eye temperature occurred immediately after disbudding, an electric prod, startling and shouting. It is suggested that this was caused by the redirection of blood from the capillary beds via sympathetically-mediated vasoconstriction. Therefore, the role of the ANS was tested by measuring eye temperature, heart rate variability (HRV) and plasma catecholamine responses simultaneously. Somatic pain from disbudding and initial responses to surgical castration included a synchronised drop in eye temperature, increases in catecholamines and changes in HRV indicative of increased sympathetic activity. The role of the sympathetic nervous system was further confirmed by a drop in eye temperature that occurred following an epinephrine challenge. In contrast, deeper visceral pain from castration caused a more marked increase in eye temperature and changes in HRV indicative of increased parasympathetic tone. The underlying mechanism driving the increase in eye temperature is unknown; however, it is possible that it may be caused by vasodilation due to increased parasympathetic activity. These differences in ANS responses to different procedures, detected by IRT and HRV, may be due to the nature of the pain and the relative fear associated with the procedure. In summary, this research showed that during stress or pain, the heat emitted from superficial capillaries around the eye changes as blood flow is regulated under ANS control and these changes can be quantified using IRT. A combination of IRT and HRV is a non-invasive way to measure ANS activity and assess acute welfare impacts of husbandry practices in cattle. Further research using pharmacological inhibition and stimulation of the ANS activity would be beneficial to fully understand the underlying regulatory mechanisms of the eye temperature and HRV responses in cattle and other species during stress and/or pain. The full capability of IRT and HRV for detection of disease and emotional states and the effects of different intensities of pain, individual traits and previous experience also deserve attention.

There is a significant comorbidity between anxiety/depression and functional gastrointestinal syndromes, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia. The pathophysiological link between emotions and the gut is not known. A model of an emotional motor system (EMS) which reacts to interoceptive and exteroceptive stress has been proposed. EMS consists of specific brain structures including anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus and mediates their communication to the rest of the body (including the gastrointestinal tract) through the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and by a pain modulation system. The aim of this thesis was to test the EMS model by studying the relationship between symptoms of anxiety and depression and IBS-like symptoms in patients with recurrent unipolar depression, in patients with IBS and in a sample of a normal Swedish population. The peripheral limb of EMS (ANS, HPA axis and the pain modulations system) was tested in patients with IBS and control subjects. Spectral heart rate variability was used to investigate ANS function in patients with refractory IBS and in healthy controls. The HPA axis function was tested by a weight adjusted low dose dexamethasone suppression test in control subjects. The influence of catecholamine degradation on pain modulation was tested by analyzing val158met catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT) polymorphism in patients with IBS and in control subjects. We found a significant relationship between symptoms of anxiety/depression and IBS-like symptoms in patients with recurrent unipolar depression, in patients with IBS and in a sample of the normal population. Interestingly, patients with recurrent unipolar depression in remission had no more IBS-like symptoms than controls, indicating that the gastrointestinal symptoms may resolve when depression is treated to remission. Patients with IBS have an increased mid-frequency power in rest and in supine position (after tilt test) compared to healthy controls indicating an increased sympathetic ANS drive. The symptoms of diarrhea and early satiety has in the litterature been associated to the stimulation of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) receptors and was also in our study related to HPA axis function tested by a low dose dexamethasone test. Interestingly both hypo- and hyperfunction of the HPA axis was related to these symptoms in control subjects. The val158met COMT polymorphism was associated to IBS-like symptoms. Control subjects with IBS-like symptoms (defined by the upper quartile in total GSRS-IBS score) had a higher frequency of the met/met and a significantly lower frequency of the val/met genotype. Also patients with IBS tended to have a lower frequency of the heterozygous val/met genotype so we conclude that this genotype may be protective against IBS/IBS like symptoms. In addition, the val/val genotype in patients with IBS was associated to diarrhea symptoms. Conclusions: Our results support the model of an emotional motor system in the genesis of functional gastrointestinal symptoms by the finding of the association of IBS-like symptoms and mood disturbances, and by finding alterations in the peripheral limbs of EMS (ANS, HPA axis and catecholamines) in subjects with IBS and IBS-like symptoms.

Stress has emerged as one of the most important factors to consider in psychiatric diagnoses and has become a common reason for long-term sick leave (LTSL). Roughly 50% of LTSL due to psychiatric diseases are thought to be associated with work-related stress. The demarcation towards major depression is disputed, and no international consensus exists for how to diagnose and rehabilitate these individuals. The Swedish National Board of Health has suggested the term “exhaustion syndrome” to integrate these individuals into stress-related disorders. Prominent features of this syndrome are fatigue, sleeping disorders, and cognitive dysfunction. The cognitive dysfunction may be due to an interaction between personality features, environmental factors, the biological effects of stress hormones, and dysfunction in key brain areas, notably the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. A consistent feature of chronic stress is activation of the cortisol, or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, axis, which may be linked to cognitive dysfunction. Increased glucocorticoid levels, mainly cortisol in humans, are known to impair memory performance. The aim of this thesis was to investigate whether patients with exhaustion syndrome exhibit specific alterations in an extensive set of biological, psychological and immunological variables. Patients in Study 1 had significant cognitive impairment for specific tasks assumed to tap frontal lobe functioning. In Study 2 anxiety prone, worrying, pessimistic individuals with low executive drive and a persistent personality type were more likely to develop exhaustion syndrome. Decreased reactivity was found on the pituitary level after corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) in exhaustion syndrome patients. The cortisol/adrenocorticotropic hormone response to CRH was slightly higher in patients compared to controls, indicating increased sensitivity at the adrenal cortex level. No differences were found in hippocampal volume. In Study 3, functional imaging revealed a different pattern of brain activation in working memory tests in patients with exhaustion syndrome compared to healthy individuals and patients with depression. In summary, our data suggests an intimate link between personality and wellbeing, cognitive performance and neuroendocrine dysfunction, in exhaustion syndrome. We thus find similarities with major depression but also distinct differences between the exhaustion syndrome and major depression.

Morphine withdrawal increases the HPA axis activity, which is dependent on a hyperactivity of noradrenergic pathways (NTS-A2) innervating the PVN. In this Thesis we found that morphine withdrawal resulted in an increase in ACTH and corticosterone secretion and a neuronal activation in the PVN. Additionally, we found robust increases in CRF and AVP hnRNAs in the PVN, concomitantly with an increase in c-Fos expression. Morphine withdrawal activated ERK1/2 in PVN and NTS, which could be involved in the c-Fos expression. Morphine withdrawal induced an increase in TH mRNA levels in the NTS-A2, total TH protein in the NTS and TH phosphorylation at Ser31 in PVN and NTS-A2, which resulted in an augmentation of TH activity in the PVN. The enhancement in TH phosphorylated at Ser31 was blocked by SL327 in both nuclei. Finally, we have found that adrenalectomy eliminated the hyperactivity of noradrenergic pathways innervating the PVN during morphine withdrawal. / La abstinencia a morfina aumenta la actividad del eje HHA, que depende de la hiperactivación de las vías noradrenérgicas (NTS-A2) que inervan al PVN. En esta Tesis encontramos que la abstinencia a morfina induce la liberación de ACTH y corticosterona y la activación neuronal del PVN. Además, observamos un aumento en los niveles de hnRNA para CRF y AVP en el PVN, concomitantemente con un incremento en la expresión de c-Fos. El síndrome de abstinencia a morfina activó a ERK1/2 en PVN y NTS. También indujo un incremento en el mRNA para TH en el NTS-A2, proteína TH total y fosforilación de TH en su Ser31 en PVN y NTS-A2, que se tradujo en un aumento en su actividad enzimática. El aumento de TH fosforilada en Ser31 fue bloqueado por SL327. Finalmente, la adrenalectomía eliminó la hiperactividad de las vías noradrenérgicas que inervan al PVN durante la abstinencia a morfina.