Glucocorticoids regulate the concentration of glial fibrillary acidic protein throughout the brain.
The role of glucocorticoids in the in vivo regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was examined. Corticosterone administration to adult rats resulted in decreased levels of GFAP throughout the brain whereas adrenalectomy caused levels of GFAP to increase. Corticosterone administration to adrenalectomized rats lowered GFAP levels to values below those of sham controls. Thus, the expression of GFAP throughout the brain appears to be physiologically regulated by adrenal glucocorticoids.
Health Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
J P
JP
O'Callaghan
R E
RE
Brinton
B S
BS
McEwen
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003345:Corticosterone