title: Psychosocial stress-related changes in gene expression of norepinephrine biosynthetic enzymes in stellate ganglia of adult rats.
abstract: In this study we investigated the changes in norepinephrine biosynthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) gene expression in the stellate ganglia of naive controls and long-term socially isolated (12 weeks) adult rats and the response of these animals to additional immobilization stress. Psychosocial stress produced a significant increase of both TH mRNA and DBH mRNA levels in stellate ganglia. Additional immobilization of long-term psychosocially stressed rats expressed no effect on gene expression of these enzymes. The results presented here suggest that psychosocial stress-induced increase in gene expression of norepinephrine biosynthetic enzymes in stellate ganglia may be connected to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinca, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ljubica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gavrilovic
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spasojevic
authors.forename: Sladjana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dronjak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000379:methods; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000201:enzymology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase