Restraint stress alters the secretory activity of neurons co-expressing urocortin-1, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide and nesfatin-1 in the mouse Edinger-Westphal nucleus.
Central stress regulatory pathways utilize various neuropeptides, such as urocortin-1 (Ucn1) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART). Ucn1 is most abundantly expressed in the non-preganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus (npEW). In addition to Ucn1, CART and nesfatin-1 are highly expressed in neurons of the npEW, but the way these three neuropeptides act together in response to acute stress is not known. We hypothesized that Ucn1, CART and nesfatin-1 are colocalized in npEW neurons and that these neurons are recruited by acute stress. Using quantitative immunocytochemistry and the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we support this hypothesis, by showing in B6C3F1/Crl mice that Ucn1, CART and nesfatin-1 occur in the same neurons of the npEW nucleus. More specifically, Ucn1 and CART revealed a complete colocalization in the same perikarya, while 90% of these neurons are also nesfatin-1-immunoreactive. Furthermore, acute (restraint) stress stimulates the general secretory activity of these npEW neurons (increased presence of Fos) and the production of Ucn1, CART and nesfatin-1: Ucn1, CART and nesfatin-1(NUCB2) mRNAs have been increased compared to controls by x1.8, x2.0 and x2.6, respectively (p<0.01). We conclude that Ucn1, CART and nesfatin-1/NUCB2 are specifically involved in the response of npEW neurons to acute stress in the mouse.
Okere
Bernard
B
Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, 213/D, 41100 Modena, Italy.
Xu
Lu
L
Roubos
Eric W
EW
Sonetti
Dario
D
Kozicz
Tamás
T
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D054832:Urocortins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C000630651:Nucb1 protein, mouse; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C549377:Ucn1 protein, mouse; D054832:Urocortins; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein