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Showing papers on "Corticosterone published in 2015"


Journal ArticleDOI
20 Feb 2015-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: Results confirmed the presence of cortisol in mouse serum and suggested that mouse serum cortisol and corticosterone are closely correlated in dynamics under different physiological or stressful conditions, but, whereas Corticosterone was a more adaptation-related biomarker than cortisol during chronic stress, cortisol was a quicker responder than cortic testosterone during severe acute stress.
Abstract: Although plasma corticosterone is considered the main glucocorticoid involved in regulation of stress responses in rodents, the presence of plasma cortisol and whether its level can be used as an indicator for rodent activation of stress remain to be determined. In this study, effects of estrous cycle stage, circadian rhythm, and acute and chronic (repeated or unpredictable) stressors of various severities on dynamics and correlation of serum cortisol and corticosterone were examined in mice. A strong (r = 0.6–0.85) correlation between serum cortisol and corticosterone was observed throughout the estrous cycle, all day long, and during acute or repeated restraints, chronic unpredictable stress and acute forced swimming or heat stress. Both hormones increased to the highest level on day 1 of repeated-restraint or unpredictable stresses, but after that, whereas the concentration of cortisol did not change, that of corticosterone showed different dynamics. Thus, whereas corticosterone declined dramatically during repeated restraints, it remained at the high level during unpredictable stress. During forced swimming or heat stress, whereas cortisol increased to the highest level within 3 min., corticosterone did not reach maximum until 40 min. of stress. Analysis with HPLC and HPLC-MS further confirmed the presence of cortisol in mouse serum. Taken together, results (i) confirmed the presence of cortisol in mouse serum and (ii) suggested that mouse serum cortisol and corticosterone are closely correlated in dynamics under different physiological or stressful conditions, but, whereas corticosterone was a more adaptation-related biomarker than cortisol during chronic stress, cortisol was a quicker responder than corticosterone during severe acute stress.

304 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Leptin is a newly described regulator of ald testosterone synthesis that acts directly on adrenal glomerulosa cells to increase CYP11B2 expression and enhance aldosterone production via calcium-dependent mechanisms and contributes to cardiovascular disease by promoting endothelial dysfunction and the expression of profibrotic markers in the heart.
Abstract: Background— In obesity, the excessive synthesis of aldosterone contributes to the development and progression of metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunctions. Obesity-induced hyperaldosteronism is independent of the known regulators of aldosterone secretion, but reliant on unidentified adipocyte-derived factors. We hypothesized that the adipokine leptin is a direct regulator of aldosterone synthase ( CYP11B2 ) expression and aldosterone release and promotes cardiovascular dysfunction via aldosterone-dependent mechanisms. Methods and Results— Immunostaining of human adrenal cross-sections and adrenocortical cells revealed that adrenocortical cells coexpress CYP11B2 and leptin receptors. Measurements of adrenal CYP11B2 expression and plasma aldosterone levels showed that increases in endogenous (obesity) or exogenous (infusion) leptin dose-dependently raised CYP11B2 expression and aldosterone without elevating plasma angiotensin II, potassium or corticosterone. Neither angiotensin II receptors blockade nor α and β adrenergic receptors inhibition blunted leptin-induced aldosterone secretion. Identical results were obtained in cultured adrenocortical cells. Enhanced leptin signaling elevated CYP11B2 expression and plasma aldosterone, whereas deficiency in leptin or leptin receptors blunted obesity-induced increases in CYP11B2 and aldosterone, ruling out a role for obesity per se. Leptin increased intracellular calcium, elevated calmodulin and calmodulin-kinase II expression, whereas calcium chelation blunted leptin-mediated increases in CYP11B2 , in adrenocortical cells. Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade blunted leptin-induced endothelial dysfunction and increases in cardiac fibrotic markers. Conclusions— Leptin is a newly described regulator of aldosterone synthesis that acts directly on adrenal glomerulosa cells to increase CYP11B2 expression and enhance aldosterone production via calcium-dependent mechanisms. Furthermore, leptin-mediated aldosterone secretion contributes to cardiovascular disease by promoting endothelial dysfunction and the expression of profibrotic markers in the heart. # CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE {#article-title-53}

229 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The objective of this review is to present an overview of the current literature discussing the link between HPA axis-derived glucocorticoids and increased oxidative stress, particularly focussing on the redox changes observed in the hippocampus following glucoc Corticoid exposure.
Abstract: Glucocorticoids released from the adrenal gland in response to stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis induce activity in the cellular reduction-oxidation (redox) system. The redox system is a ubiquitous chemical mechanism allowing the transfer of electrons between donor/acceptors and target molecules during oxidative phosphorylation while simultaneously maintaining the overall cellular environment in a reduced state. The objective of this review is to present an overview of the current literature discussing the link between HPA axis-derived glucocorticoids and increased oxidative stress, particularly focussing on the redox changes observed in the hippocampus following glucocorticoid exposure.

182 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The LC-MS/MS assay offers profiling of 13 other adrenal steroids, providing a potentially useful method for the clinical work-up of patients with primary aldosteronism, and larger AV/pV ratios of several steroids compared to cortisol suggest more sensitive alternatives to the latter for assessing positioning of AV sampling catheters.

122 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2015-Steroids
TL;DR: The results suggest that resveratrol produces an antidepressant-like effect in CORT-induced depression in mice, which is possibly mediated by rectifying the stress-based hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction paradigm and upregulation of hippocampal BDNF levels.

116 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Li Cai1, Rong Li1, Wen-jian Tang1, Gang Meng1, Xiang-yang Hu1, Ting-ni Wu1 
TL;DR: Geniposide possessed potent antidepressant-like properties that may be mediated by its effects on the HPA axis, and upregulated the hypothalamic GRα mRNA level and GRα protein expression in PVN, suggesting geniposid could recover the impaired GRα negative feedback on CRH expression and HPAaxis.

105 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors performed intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of recombinant FGF1 or FGF19 in an awake rat model of type 1 diabetes and measured rates of whole-body lipolysis, hepatic acetyl CoA content, pyruvate carboxylase activity and hepatic glucose production.
Abstract: Fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF1) and FGF19 have been shown to improve glucose metabolism in diabetic rodents, but how this occurs is unknown. Here to investigate the mechanism of action of these growth factors, we perform intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of recombinant FGF1 or FGF19 in an awake rat model of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and measure rates of whole-body lipolysis, hepatic acetyl CoA content, pyruvate carboxylase activity and hepatic glucose production. We show that i.c.v. injection of FGF19 or FGF1 leads to a ∼60% reduction in hepatic glucose production, hepatic acetyl CoA content and whole-body lipolysis, which results from decreases in plasma ACTH and corticosterone concentrations. These effects are abrogated by an intra-arterial infusion of corticosterone. Taken together these studies identify suppression of the HPA axis and ensuing reductions in hepatic acetyl CoA content as a common mechanism responsible for mediating the acute, insulin-independent, glucose-lowering effects of FGF1 and FGF19 in rodents with poorly controlled T1D.

93 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that the sound stress during fetal life efficiently disturbs both cognitive abilities and synaptic activities and the changes in action of HPA axis may contribute to problems of the brain function in the prenatally stress exposed animals.
Abstract: Sound pollution is known as an annoying phenomenon in modern life. Especially, development of organisms during fetal life is more sensitive to environmental tensions. To address a link between the behavioral and electrophysiological aspects of brain function with action of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in stressed animals, this study was carried out on the male Wistar rats prenatally exposed to sound stress. Groups of pregnant rats were exposed to noise stress for 1, 2, and 4 hour(s). The degree of anxiety and the spatial memory were evaluated by elevated plus maze and Morris water maze, respectively. Basic synaptic activity and long-term potentiation (LTP) induction were assessed in the CA3-CA1 pathway of hippocampus. The serum level of corticosterone was measured in the pregnant mothers and the offspring. The behavioral experiments appeared that the stressed animals performed considerably weaker than the control rats. The prenatal stress negatively affected the basic synaptic responses and led to a lower level of LTP. The pregnant animals showed an increased serum corticosterone in comparison with the nonpregnant females. Also the offspring exposed to the noise stress had a more elevated level of corticosterone than the control rats. Our findings indicate that the corticosterone concentration changes markedly coincides the results of behavioral and electrophysiological experiments. We conclude that, similar to other environmental stresses, the sound stress during fetal life efficiently disturbs both cognitive abilities and synaptic activities. The changes in action of HPA axis may contribute to problems of the brain function in the prenatally stress exposed animals.

92 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the shaved back skin of C57BL/6 mice was exposed to 400 mJ cm −2 of UVB or was sham irradiated, and after 12 and 24 hours of exposure, plasma, skin, brain, and adrenals were collected and processed to measure corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), urocortin (Ucn), β-endorphin (β-END), ACTH, and corticosterone (CORT) or the brain was fixed for immunohistochemical detection of CRH.

92 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data suggest that PNS may epigenetically reduce transcription in the hippocampus, particularly in females in whom this effect may be related to increased baseline stress hormone levels, and which may underlie the sexual dimorphism in rates of mental illness in humans.

86 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: FGF21 and GCs regulate each other's production in a feed-forward loop and it is suggested that this provides a mechanism for bypassing negative feedback on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to allow sustained gluconeogenesis during starvation.
Abstract: Hormones such as fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and glucocorticoids (GCs) play crucial roles in coordinating the adaptive starvation response. Here we examine the interplay between these hormones. It was previously shown that FGF21 induces corticosterone levels in mice by acting on the brain. We now show that this induces the expression of genes required for GC synthesis in the adrenal gland. FGF21 also increases corticosterone secretion from the adrenal in response to ACTH. We further show that the relationship between FGF21 and GCs is bidirectional. GCs induce Fgf21 expression in the liver by acting on the GC receptor (GR). The GR binds in a ligand-dependent manner to a noncanonical GR response element located approximately 4.4 kb upstream of the Fgf21 transcription start site. The GR cooperates with the nuclear fatty acid receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α, to stimulate Fgf21 transcription. GR and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α ligands have additive effects on Fgf21 expression both in vivo and in primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes. We conclude that FGF21 and GCs regulate each other's production in a feed-forward loop and suggest that this provides a mechanism for bypassing negative feedback on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to allow sustained gluconeogenesis during starvation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that 5-HT mediates behavioral responses to environmental adversity by facilitating the encoding of stress effects leading to increased vulnerability for negative emotionality.
Abstract: Rationale While brain serotonin (5-HT) function is implicated in gene-by-environment interaction (GxE) impacting the vulnerability-resilience continuum in neuropsychiatric disorders, it remains elusive how the interplay of altered 5-HTsynthesis and environmental stressors is linked to failure in emotion regulation. Objective Here, we investigated the effect of constitutively impaired 5-HT synthesis on behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to unpredictable chronic mild stress (CMS) using a mouse model of brain 5-HT deficiency resulting from targeted inactivation of the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (Tph2) gene. Results Locomotor activity and anxiety- and depression-like behavior as well as conditioned fear responses were differentially affected by Tph2 genotype, sex, and CMS. Tph2 null mutants (Tph2 �/� ) displayed increased general metabolism, marginally reduced anxiety- and depression-like behavior but strikingly increased conditioned fear responses. Behavioral modifications were associated with sex-specific hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenocortical (HPA) system alterations as indicated by plasma corticosterone and fecal corticosterone metabolite concentrations. Tph2 �/� males displayed increased impulsivity and high aggressiveness. Tph2 �/� females displayed greater emotional

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Stress affects the behavioral, endocrine and the molecular response of the stress systems in the hypothalamus of SD rats in a clear sexual dimorphic way, which has parallels in human data on stress and depression.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 2015-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: It is shown that for R. icterica restraint for 24h proved to be a stressful condition, increasing CORT by 3-fold without consistent immunological changes, but the application of a more intense stressor (restraint with movement restriction), for the same period, potentiated this response resulting in a 9-fold increase in CORT.
Abstract: Glucocorticoid steroids modulate immunocompetence in complex ways with both immunoenhancing and immunosuppressive effects in vertebrates exposed to different stressors. Such bimodal effects have been associated with variation in duration and intensity of the stress response. Given that natural populations have been exposed to a multitude of stressors, a better understanding of the functional association between duration and intensity of the stress response, the resulting changes in glucocorticoid plasma levels and their impact on different aspects of immunocompetence emerges as a cornerstone for vertebrate conservation strategies. We investigated the effects of a restraint challenge (with and without movement restriction), long-term captivity, and transdermal corticosterone application on plasma levels of corticosterone (hereinafter referred to as CORT) and different parameters of innate immunocompetence in the male cururu toads (Rhinella icterica). We show that for R. icterica restraint for 24h proved to be a stressful condition, increasing CORT by 3-fold without consistent immunological changes. However, the application of a more intense stressor (restraint with movement restriction), for the same period, potentiated this response resulting in a 9-fold increase in CORT, associated with increase Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio (N:L) and a lower bacterial killing ability (BKA). Transdermal application of corticosterone efficiently mimics repeated acute stress response events, without changing the immune parameters even after 13 days of treatment. Interestingly, long-term captivity did not mitigate the stress response, since the toads maintained 3-fold increased CORT even after 3 months under these conditions. Moreover, long-term captivity in the same condition increased total leukocyte count (TLC) and generated an even greater decrease in BKA, suggesting that consequences of the stress response can be aggravated by time in captivity.

Journal ArticleDOI
Victoria N. Luine1
TL;DR: Results show that these steroid hormones are potent modulators of memory consolidation in rodent models, and are beneficial to neuroendocrine research concerning the effects of gonadal and adrenal hormones on cognitive function.

Journal Article
TL;DR: Investigation of the effects of chronic unpredictable mild stress with or without selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine) and anti-oxidant (resveratrol) on testicular functions and oxidative stress in rats found that CUMS induces testicular dysfunctions and oxidative Stress.
Abstract: Our objective was to investigate the effects of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) with or without selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine) and anti-oxidant (resveratrol) on testicular functions and oxidative stress in rats. Fifty male rats were divided into 2 groups; control and CUMS. CUMS group was further subdivided into 4 subgroups administered water, fluoxetine, resveratrol and both. Sucrose intake, body weight gain, serum corticosterone, serotonin and testosterone levels, sperm count and motility, testicular malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione (GSH), and gene expression of steroidogenic acute-regulatory (StAR) protein and cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage (P450scc) enzyme were evaluated. CUMS decreased sucrose intake, weight gain, anti-oxidants (SOD, catalase, GSH), testosterone, serotonin, StAR and cytochrome P450scc gene expression, sperm count and motility and increased malondialdehyde and corticosterone. Fluoxetine increased malondialdehyde, sucrose intake, weight gain, serotonin and decreased anti-oxidants, StAR and cytochrome P450scc gene expression, sperm count and motility, testosterone, corticosterone in stressed rats. Administration of resveratrol increased anti-oxidants, sucrose intake, weight gain, serotonin, StAR and cytochrome P450scc gene expression, testosterone, sperm count and motility, and decreased malondialdehyde and corticosterone in stressed rats with or without fluoxetine. In conclusion, CUMS induces testicular dysfunctions and oxidative stress. While treatment of CUMS rats with fluoxetine decreases the depressive behavior, it causes further worsening of testicular dysfunctions and oxidative stress. Administration of resveratrol improves testicular dysfunctions and oxidative stress that are caused by CUMS and further worsened by fluoxetine treatment.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Altered gut-brain signalling in the course of DSS-induced colitis is thought to cause the observed distinct gene expression changes in the limbic system and the aberrant molecular and behavioural stress responses.
Abstract: Psychological stress causes disease exacerbation and relapses in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Since studies on stress processing during visceral inflammation are lacking, we investigated the effects of experimental colitis as well as psychological stress on neurochemical and neuroendocrine changes as well as behaviour in mice. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and water avoidance stress (WAS) were used as mouse models of colitis and mild psychological stress, respectively. We measured WAS-associated behaviour, gene expression and proinflammatory cytokine levels within the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus as well as plasma levels of cytokines and corticosterone in male C57BL/6N mice. Animals with DSS-induced colitis presented with prolonged immobility during the WAS session, which was associated with brain region-dependent alterations of neuropeptide Y (NPY), NPY receptor Y1, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH receptor 1, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glucocorticoid receptor gene expression. Furthermore, the combination of DSS and WAS increased interleukin-6 and growth regulated oncogene-α levels in the brain. Altered gut-brain signalling in the course of DSS-induced colitis is thought to cause the observed distinct gene expression changes in the limbic system and the aberrant molecular and behavioural stress responses. These findings provide new insights into the effects of stress during IBD.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The sensitivity of the adrenal gland to adrenocorticotropic hormone increased markedly at around 8 hours after surgery maintaining very high levels of cortisol in the face of “basal” levels of adrenoc Cortisol levels, suggesting that severe inflammatory stimuli activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and an elevation of cortisol levels in the blood is maintained.
Abstract: Objectives: To characterize the dynamics of the pituitary-adrenal interaction during the course of coronary artery bypass grafting both on and off pump. Since our data pointed to a major change in adrenal responsiveness to adrenocorticotropic hormone, we used a reverse translation approach to investigate the molecular mech-anisms underlying this change in a rat model of critical illness.Design: Clinical studies: Prospective observational study. Animal studies: Controlled experimental study.Setting: Clinical studies: Cardiac surgery operating rooms and critical care units. Animal studies: University research laboratory.Subjects: Clinical studies: Twenty, male patients. Animal studies: Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats.Interventions: Clinical studies: Coronary artery bypass graft—both on and off pump. Animal studies: Injection of either lipopolysac-charide or saline (controls) via a jugular vein cannula.Measurements and Main Results: Clinical studies: Blood sam-ples were taken for 24 hours from placement of the first venous access. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone were mea-sured every 10 and 60 minutes, respectively, and corticosteroid-binding globulin was measured at the beginning and end of the 24-hour period and at the end of operation. There was an initial rise in both levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol to supranormal values at around the end of surgery. Adrenocor-ticotropic hormone levels then returned toward preoperative val-ues. Ultradian pulsatility of both adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol was maintained throughout the perioperative period in all individuals. The sensitivity of the adrenal gland to adrenocortico-tropic hormone increased markedly at around 8 hours after sur-gery maintaining very high levels of cortisol in the face of “basal” levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone. This sensitivity began to return toward preoperative values at the end of the 24-hour sam-pling period. Animal studies: Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats were given either lipopolysaccharide or sterile saline via a jugular vein cannula. Hourly blood samples were subsequently collected for adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone measure-ment. Rats were killed 6 hours after the injection, and the adrenal glands were collected for measurement of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, steroidogenic factor 1, and dosage-sensitive sex reversal, adrenal hypoplasia critical region, on chromosome X, gene 1 messenger RNAs and protein using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western immunoblotting, respec-tively. Adrenal levels of the adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor (melanocortin type 2 receptor) messenger RNA and its accessory protein (melanocortin type 2 receptor accessory protein) were also measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reac-tion. In response to lipopolysaccharide, rats showed a pattern of

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results reveal pronounced sex differences in the PVN GR dependence of acute stress feedback regulation of HPA axis function and indicate that glucocorticoid control of H PA axis responses after chronic stress operates via a PVN-independent mechanism.
Abstract: Glucocorticoids act rapidly at the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to inhibit stress-excitatory neurons and limit excessive glucocorticoid secretion. The signaling mechanism underlying rapid feedback inhibition remains to be determined. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the canonical glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) is required for appropriate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation. Local PVN GR knockdown (KD) was achieved by breeding homozygous floxed GR mice with Sim1-cre recombinase transgenic mice. This genetic approach created mice with a KD of GR primarily confined to hypothalamic cell groups, including the PVN, sparing GR expression in other HPA axis limbic regulatory regions, and the pituitary. There were no differences in circadian nadir and peak corticosterone concentrations between male PVN GR KD mice and male littermate controls. However, reduction of PVN GR increased ACTH and corticosterone responses to acute, but not chronic stress, indicating that PVN GR i...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Fasting increased corticosterone and decreased testosterone in circulation, indicating that the testes can integrate and respond to cues of stress directly, and local inhibition of testosterone synthesis may allow for rapid and reversible changes in physiology and behavior when conditions are inappropriate for breeding.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data suggest that the nongenomic/membrane effects of classical GR mediate rapid and reversible glucocorticoid feedback inhibition at the pituitary corticotrophs downstream of calcium influx.
Abstract: The hypothesis that rapid glucocorticoid inhibition of pituitary ACTH secretion mediates a feedforward/feedback mechanism responsible for the hourly glucocorticoid pulsatility was tested in cultured pituitary cells. Perifusion with 30 pM CRH caused sustained the elevation of ACTH secretion. Superimposed corticosterone pulses inhibited CRH-stimulated ACTH release, depending on prior glucocorticoid clearance. When CRH perifusion started after 2 hours of glucocorticoid-free medium, corticosterone levels in the stress range (1 μM) caused a delayed (25 min) and prolonged inhibition of CRH-stimulated ACTH secretion, up to 60 minutes after corticosterone withdrawal. In contrast, after 6 hours of glucocorticoid-free medium, basal corticosterone levels inhibited CRH-stimulated ACTH within 5 minutes, after rapid recovery 5 minutes after corticosterone withdrawal. The latter effect was insensitive to actinomycin D but was prevented by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU486, suggesting nongenomic effects of the classical glucocorticoid receptor. In hypothalamic-derived 4B cells, 10 nM corticosterone increased immunoreactive glucocorticoid receptor content in membrane fractions, with association and clearance rates paralleling the effects on ACTH secretion from corticotrophs. Corticosterone did not affect CRH-stimulated calcium influx, but in AtT-20 cells, it had biphasic effects on CRH-stimulated Src phosphorylation, with early inhibition and late stimulation, suggesting a role for Src phosphorylation on the rapid glucocorticoid feedback. The data suggest that the nongenomic/membrane effects of classical GR mediate rapid and reversible glucocorticoid feedback inhibition at the pituitary corticotrophs downstream of calcium influx. The sensitivity and kinetics of these effects is consistent with the hypothesis that pituitary glucocorticoid feedback is part of the mechanism for adrenocortical ultradian pulse generation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Intracisternal administration of mifepristone, a GR antagonist, effectively reduced immune-activated proinflammatory responses, specifically from hippocampal microglia and prevented Escherichia coli-induced memory impairments in aged rats, and voluntary exercise as a therapeutic intervention significantly reduced total hippocampal GR expression.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article showed that depression-like behavior in rats treated with corticosterone develops in concert with decreased dendritic complexity in newborn hippocampal granule neurons and decreased reelin expression in the proliferative subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus.
Abstract: We have hypothesized that a downregulation of reelin and deficient maturation of adult-born hippocampal neurons are important factors in the pathogenesis of depression. This hypothesis is based on previous work showing that depression-like behavior in rats treated with protracted corticosterone develops in concert with decreased dendritic complexity in newborn hippocampal granule neurons and decreased reelin expression in the proliferative subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. In addition, heterozygous reeler mice with approximately 50% of normal brain levels of reelin are more vulnerable to the depressogenic effects of corticosterone than wild-type mice. The purpose of this experiment was to provide pharmacological validation for the link between reelin, neuronal maturation, and depression by examining whether the deleterious effects of corticosterone on these measures could be prevented by co-administration of the antidepressant imipramine. Rats received corticosterone injections, corticosterone injections plus either 10 or 15mg/kg imipramine injections, or vehicle injections for 21 consecutive days. They were then subjected to the forced swim test to assess depression-like behavior and sacrificed for immunohistochemical examination of immature neuron number and dendritic complexity and the presence of reelin+cells. We found that corticosterone increases depression-like behavior, decreases the number of reelin+cells in the subgranular zone, and decreases the number and complexity of immature neurons in the granule cell layer. All of these behavioral and cellular phenotypes were prevented by imipramine, providing further support for the idea that reelin is involved in the pathogenesis of depression.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: 24 h of SF is a potent inducer of inflammation and stress hormones in the periphery, but leads to upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain.
Abstract: Sleep deprivation induces acute inflammation and increased glucocorticosteroids in vertebrates, but effects from fragmented, or intermittent, sleep are poorly understood. Considering the latter is more representative of sleep apnea in humans, we investigated changes in proinflammatory (IL-1β, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (TGF-β1) cytokine gene expression in the periphery (liver, spleen, fat, and heart) and brain (hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus) of a murine model exposed to varying intensities of sleep fragmentation (SF). Additionally, serum corticosterone was assessed. Sleep was disrupted in male C57BL/6J mice using an automated sleep fragmentation chamber that moves a sweeping bar at specified intervals (Lafayette Industries). Mice were exposed to bar sweeps every 20 s (high sleep fragmentation, HSF), 120 s (low sleep fragmentation, LSF), or the bar remained stationary (control). Trunk blood and tissue samples were collected after 24 h of SF. We predicted that HSF mice would exhibit increased proinflammatory expression, decreased anti-inflammatory expression, and elevated stress hormones in relation to LSF and controls. SF significantly elevated IL-1β gene expression in adipose tissue, heart (HSF only), and hypothalamus (LSF only) relative to controls. SF did not increase TNF-α expression in any of the tissues measured. HSF increased TGF-β1 expression in the hypothalamus and hippocampus relative to other groups. Serum corticosterone concentration was significantly different among groups, with HSF mice exhibiting the highest, LSF intermediate, and controls with the lowest concentration. This indicates that 24 h of SF is a potent inducer of inflammation and stress hormones in the periphery, but leads to upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The reduction in the hippocampal astrocyte structural plasticity may represent the mechanism by which chronic CORT treatment causes hippocampal atrophy and depression-like behavior in male mice.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicate that B6N mice are more sensitive to some of the effects of chronic corticosterone treatment than B6J mice, which is relevant for the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders.
Abstract: Many studies using genetic mouse models are performed with animals on either one of the two closely related genetic backgrounds, C57BL/6J or C57BL/6N. These strains differ only in a few genetic loci, but have some phenotypic differences that also affect behavior. In order to determine the effects of chronic stress hormone exposure, which is relevant for the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders, we investigated here the behavioral manifestations of long-term increase in corticosterone levels. Thus, male mice from both sub-strains were subcutaneously implanted with corticosterone (20 mg) or placebo pellets that released the hormone for a period of 21 days and resulted in significantly elevated plasma corticosterone levels. Corticosterone significantly increased food intake in B6N, but not in B6J mice. At various time points after pellet implantation, we performed tests relevant to activity and emotional behaviors. B6J mice displayed a generally higher activity in the home cage and the open field. Corticosterone decreased the activity. In B6N mice, corticosterone also decreased sucrose preference, worsened the coat state and increased forced swim immobility, while it had no effect in the B6J strain. Altogether, these results indicate that B6N mice are more sensitive to some of the effects of chronic corticosterone treatment than B6J mice.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that in the mouse, endogenous GCs show tissue-specific developmental patterns, rather than mirroring GCs in the blood, which suggests that steroids are widely used as local signals, in addition to their classic role as systemic (endocrine) signals.
Abstract: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are produced by the adrenal glands and circulate in the blood to coordinate organismal physiology. In addition, different tissues may independently regulate their local GC levels via local GC synthesis. Here, we find that in the mouse, endogenous GCs show tissue-specific developmental patterns, rather than mirroring GCs in the blood. Using solid-phase extraction, HPLC, and specific immunoassays, we quantified endogenous steroids and found that in tissues of female and male mice, (1) local GC levels can be much higher than systemic GC levels, (2) local GCs follow age-related patterns different from those of systemic GCs, and (3) local GCs have identities different from those of systemic GCs. For example, whereas corticosterone is the predominant circulating adrenal GC in mice, high concentrations of cortisol were measured in neonatal thymus, bone marrow, and heart. The presence of cortisol was confirmed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In addition, gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes was detected across multiple tissues, consistent with local GC production. Our results demonstrate that local GCs can differ from GCs in circulating blood. This finding suggests that steroids are widely used as local (paracrine or autocrine) signals, in addition to their classic role as systemic (endocrine) signals. Local GC regulation may even be the norm, rather than the exception, especially during development.

Journal ArticleDOI
08 Apr 2015-Stress
TL;DR: It is concluded that while a PACAP receptor in addition to PAC1 may mediate some of the PACAP-dependent central effects of ARS and short-term CRS on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the PAC1 receptor plays a prominent role in mediating PAC AP-dependent HPA axis activation, and hypophagia, during long-term (>7 days) CRS.
Abstract: Acute restraint stress (ARS) for 3 h causes corticosterone (CORT) elevation in venous blood, which is accompanied by Fos up-regulation in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of male C57BL/6 mice. CORT elevation by ARS is attenuated in PACAP-deficient mice, but unaffected in PAC1-deficient mice. Correspondingly, Fos up-regulation by ARS is greatly attenuated in PACAP-deficient mice, but much less so in PAC1-deficient animals. We noted that both PACAP- and PAC1-deficiency greatly attenuate CORT elevation after ARS when CORT measurements are performed on trunk blood following euthanasia by abrupt cervical separation: this latter observation is of critical importance in assessing the role of PACAP neurotransmission in ARS, based on previous reports in which serum CORT was sampled from trunk blood. Seven days of chronic restraint stress (CRS) induces non-habituating CORT elevation, and weight loss consequent to hypophagia, in wild-type male C57BL/6 mice. Both CORT elevation and weight loss following 7-da...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that the constitutive deficiency of Cx43 resulted in the expression of some characteristic hallmarks of antidepressant-/anxiolytic-like behavioral activities along with an improvement of cognitive performances and envision that antidepressant drugs may exert their therapeutic activity by decreasing the expression and/or activity of C x43 resulting from a lower level of phosphorylation in the hippocampus.
Abstract: Clinical and preclinical studies have implicated glial anomalies in major depression. Conversely, evidence suggests that the activity of antidepressant drugs is based, at least in part, on their ability to stimulate density and/or activity of astrocytes, a major glial cell population. Despite this recent evidence, little is known about the mechanism(s) by which astrocytes regulate emotionality. Glial cells communicate with each other through gap junction channels (GJCs), while they can also directly interact with neurons by releasing gliotransmitters in the extracellular compartment via an hemichannels (HCs)-dependent process. Both GJCs and HCs are formed by two main protein subunits: connexins (Cx) 30 and 43 (Cx30 and Cx43). Here we investigate the role of hippocampal Cx43 in the regulation of depression-like symptoms using genetic and pharmacological approaches. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the constitutive knock-down of Cx43 on a set of behaviors known to be affected in depression. Conversely, the expression of Cx43 was assessed in the hippocampus of mice subjected to prolonged corticosterone exposure, given either alone or in combination with an antidepressant drug, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine. Our results indicate that the constitutive deficiency of Cx43 resulted in the expression of some characteristic hallmarks of antidepressant-/anxiolytic-like behavioral activities along with an improvement of cognitive performances. Moreover, in a new cohort of wild-type mice, we showed that corticosterone exposure elicited anxiety and depression-like abnormalities that were reversed by chronic administration of fluoxetine. Remarkably, corticosterone also increased hippocampal amounts of phosphorylated form of Cx43 whereas fluoxetine treatment normalized this parameter. From these results, we envision that antidepressant drugs may exert their therapeutic activity by decreasing the expression and/or activity of Cx43 resulting from a lower level of phosphorylation in the hippocampus.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It can be concluded that a potential time-dependent involvement of stress and recovery period on the level of BDNF might promote adaptive effects on memory and CORT level.