[Role of the monoaminergic system and steroid-producing glands in the development of emotional stress and the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension in monkeys].

Radioimmune assays of blood cortisol and testosterone levels were carried out in mature and prepubertal male baboons exposed to repeated immobilization stress. Sympathoadrenal activity was assessed on the basis of total daily urinary catecholamine excretion. Repeated immobilization stress resulted in stable arterial hypertension persisting for 6 months after stress exposure in prepubertal baboons, whereas mature males showed transitory arterial BP elevation. In both samples, repeated stress was associated with sympathoadrenal activation and elevated blood cortisol, with higher cortisol concentrations and extremely low testosterone in prepubertal animals, while mature males only showed episodic blood testosterone drops. It is suggested that rapid development of stable hypertension in prepubertal animals may be related to specific hormonal support of their response to stress.