Changes in the expression of steroid metabolism-related genes in rat adrenal glands during selective REM sleep deprivation.
Selective REM sleep deprivation was carried out under the conditions designed to minimize the adverse influence of environmental conditions and restricted movement, and the influence of REM sleep deprivation on adrenocortical steroid metabolism was investigated by measuring the steady-state levels of mRNAs encoding steroid metabolism-related genes, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme cytochrome P450 (P450scc) and steroid 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R), in rat adrenal glands. Selective REM sleep deprivation caused a significant decrease in StAR mRNA and an increase in 5alpha-R mRNA levels without any notable change in P450scc mRNA levels in the adrenal gland. In contrast, non-selective sleep disturbance, resulting in the partial reductions of non-REM and REM sleep, tended to increase both StAR and P450scc mRNA levels without any statistical significance. These results indicate that REM sleep deprivation by itself may affect the expression of steroid metabolism-related genes in the adrenal gland, suggesting a possible relation between REM sleep and adrenocortical steroid metabolism.
Morita
Kyoji
K
Neuroscience Group in Department of Pharmacology, Tokushima University School of Medicine, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Japan. km@basic.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Kuwada
Aki
A
Fujihara
Hiroaki
H
Morita
Yusuke
Y
Sei
Hiroyoshi
H
D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000378:metabolism*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
D000199:Actins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase