title: Neurotransmitter modulation of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA levels in the rat hippocampus.
abstract: Glucocorticoids in the hippocampus mediate adaptive responses elicited by stressful stimuli. In this study we investigated glucocorticoid receptor gene expression in the rat hippocampus following acute stress. A significant decrease in glucocorticoid receptor mRNA levels was observed in the hippocampus less than 1 h after the onset of stress. This decrease was inhibited by administering either MK-801, diazepam or propranolol prior to exposure to stress. The effect of diazepam on the stress-induced decrease in hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor mRNA was reversed by Ro-15-1788, suggesting that it is mediated by central benzodiazepine receptors, i.e. GABA-A. These results indicate that NMDA, GABA-A and beta-adrenergic receptors are involved in the mechanism of the stress-induced decrease in glucocorticoid receptor mRNA levels in the rat hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biology-Biochemistry, Faculty of Nursing, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tritos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kitraki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Philippidis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stylianopoulou
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018757:GABA Modulators; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D005442:Flumazenil; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D011433:Propranolol; D003975:Diazepam