New mode of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis regulation: significance for stress-related disorders.
Two types of corticosteroid receptors have been identified in the brain and pituitary that play an important role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. These glucocorticoid hormone binding receptors are the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Evidently, a tight control of the concentration and function of these receptors is of prime importance for maintaining and regaining homeostasis after stressful challenges. Here, we describe a novel mechanism revealing a rapid upsurge in MR density in the hippocampus (a limbic structure highly involved in HPA axis regulation) after an acute psychologically stressful challenge. This rise in MR is accompanied by a stronger MR-mediated inhibitory control of the HPA axis. Thus, an acute stressful experience results in a reorganization of the HPA axis involving a principal role of the hippocampal MR. This novel mechanism may be of significance for increasing our understanding of the etiology of stress-related disorders.
Reul
J M
JM
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, Kraepelinstrasse 2, 80804 Munich, Germany. reul@mpipsykl.mpg.de
Bilang-Bleuel
A
A
Droste
S
S
Linthorst
A C
AC
Holsboer
F
F
Gesing
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000502:physiology*; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone