Urocortin-deficient mice display normal stress-induced anxiety behavior and autonomic control but an impaired acoustic startle response.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh) plays an important role in modulating physiological and behavioral responses to stress. Its actions are mediated through two receptors, Crhr1 and Crhr2. Urocortin (Ucn), a Crh-related neuropeptide and the postulated endogenous ligand for Crhr2, is a potential mediator of stress responses. We generated Ucn-deficient mice using embryonic stem cell technology to determine its role in stress-induced behavioral and autonomic responses. Unlike Crhr1- or Crhr2-deficient mice, Ucn-deficient mice exhibit normal anxiety-like behavior as well as autonomic regulation in response to stress. However, the mutant mice display an impaired acoustic startle response that is not due to an obvious hearing defect. Thus, our results suggest that Ucn does not play an essential role in stress-induced behavioral and autonomic responses. Ucn may modulate the acoustic startle response through the Ucn-expressing neuron projections from the region of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus.
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Division of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Xiaozhong
X
Wang
Hong
H
Su
Leslie D
LD
Copenhagen
Sukishi
S
Vaishnav
Fredalina
F
Pieri
Cynthia Do
CD
Shope
William E
WE
Brownell
Mariella
M
De Biasi
Richard
R
Paylor
Allan
A
Bradley
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D015723:Gene Library; D006309:Hearing / Q000235:genetics*; D008027:Light; D018782:Maze Learning; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008957:Models, Genetic; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000235:genetics; D013016:Sound; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013997:Time Factors; D054832:Urocortins
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone