Gene expression of NMDA receptor subunits in rat adrenals under basal and stress conditions.
In addition to the central nervous system, glutamate receptors have been recently identified in a number of peripheral tissues, including adrenals. Pharmacological evidence indicates that adrenal glutamate receptors may be involved in stress response, particularly in catecholamine release. However, possible stress-induced changes at the level of local receptors themselves have not been evaluated yet. This study was aimed to investigate gene expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits (NR1, NR2A, NR2B) in rat adrenal gland under basal and stress conditions, using RT-PCR. NR1 mRNA was found to be present in the adrenal gland, while mRNAs coding for NR2-type subunits failed to be detected in adrenal tissue. The distribution of NR1 mRNA in rat adrenals showed higher concentrations in the adrenal medulla (228%) compared to those in the cortex. Single stress stimulus (immobilization) induced a significant increase of NR1 gene expression in both medullar (by 25%) and cortical (by 66%) regions of the adrenal gland at 24 h, while no changes were observed at 3 h after the stress exposure. It is possible that delayed rise in adrenal NR1 gene expression following stress exposure represents one of the factors by which stress exerts long-term effects on adrenal function at the molecular level.
Schwendt
M
M
Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Jezová
D
D
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism*
D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate