title: Activation of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 mediates the colonic motor coping response to acute stress in rodents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor-1 (CRF(1)) mediates the stress-induced colonic motor activity. Less is known about the role of CRF(2) in the colonic response to stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied colonic contractile activity in rats and CRF(2)-/-, CRF-overexpressing, and wild-type mice using still manometry; we analyzed defecation induced by acute partial-restraint stress (PRS), and/or intraperitoneal injection of CRF ligands. In rats, we monitored activation of the colonic longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus (LMMP) neurons and localization of CRF(1) and CRF(2) using immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses. We measured phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 by CRF ligands in primary cultures of LMMP neurons (PC-LMMPn) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production in human embryonic kidney-293 cells transfected with CRF(1) and/or CRF(2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In rats, a selective agonist of CRF(2) (urocortin 2) reduced CRF-induced defecation (>50%), colonic contractile activity, and Fos expression in the colonic LMMP. A selective antagonist of CRF(2) (astressin(2)-B) increased these responses. Urocortin 2 reduced PRS-induced colonic contractile activity in wild-type and CRF-overexpressing mice, whereas disruption of CRF(2) increased PRS-induced colonic contractile activity and CRF-induced defecation. CRF(2) colocalized with CRF(1) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the rat colon, LMMP, and PC-LMMPn. CRF-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in PC-LMMPn; this was inhibited or increased by a selective antagonist of CRF(1) (NBI35965) or astressin(2)-B, respectively. The half maximal effective concentration, EC(50), for the CRF-induced cAMP response was 8.6 nmol/L in human embryonic kidney-293 cells that express only CRF(1); this response was suppressed 10-fold in cells that express CRF(1) and CRF(2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In colon tissues of rodents, CRF(2) activation inhibits CRF(1) signaling in myenteric neurons and the stress-induced colonic motor responses. Disruption of CRF(2) function impairs colonic coping responses to stress.
authors.affiliation: Center for Ulcer Research and Education/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California Los Angeles, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gourcerol
authors.forename: S Vincent
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Pu-Qing
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Hung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miampamba
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larauche
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Tomofumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulak
authors.forename: Eunok
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Charalabos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pothoulakis
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivier
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taché
authors.forename: Mulugeta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Million
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D054832:Urocortins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
chemical_list: C101531:CRF receptor type 2; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D054832:Urocortins; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1