Differential regulation of glucocorticoid receptor messenger RNA (GR-mRNA) by maternal deprivation in immature rat hypothalamus and limbic regions.
Maternal deprivation (MDep) of neonatal rats significantly influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This study hypothesized that GR-mRNA modulation constituted an early, critical mechanism for the acute effects of MDep on neuroendocrine stress-responses. GR-mRNA hybridization signal in hippocampal CA1, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and frontal cortex was significantly reduced immediately following 24 h MDep. In amygdala, cingulate cortex, PVN and CA1, apparent gender-dependent MDep effects on GR-mRNA expression were observed, without significant differences in absolute levels. Thus, rapid, region-specific MDep effects on GR-mRNA expression in HPA-regulating areas are shown, consistent with involvement of GR-expression in mechanisms of MDep influence on HPA tone.
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008032:Limbic System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic