CORE--ENDOCRINOLOGY

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In this program project grant the influence of stress on wound healing will be examined in several human and animal models. Various dependent variables will be examined including aging, immunity, psychological and psychosocial variables, as well as spinal cord injury. Stress influences each of these entities and the most probably mediator between stress and these variables is the neuroendocrine system. In each project, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis will be examined to determine its role in the stress-related inhibition of wound healing. Plasma cortisol and/or the biologically-active free steroid found in salivary cortisol, as well as ACTH and DHEA will represent hormones of the HPA system. In addition we plan to examine pituitary growth hormone and IGF-1 because of their well-documented immune enhancing properties (Berczi, 1994). Dr Malarkey's endocrine lab has expertise in running all of the assays outlined in this proposal. In stead of having to train multiple technicians in five different laboratories, it is our opinion that one full-time technician can produce increased efficiency as well as accuracy in performance of these assays. Hence, we believe the endocrine core would produce cost savings as well as enhance accuracy of the assays. The endocrine core will keep Dr. Malarkey, the endocrinologist closely involved with the endocrine affects of the four projects, each of which has an endocrine component.