title: Stress-induced changes in gene expression of urocortin 2 and other CRH peptides in rat adrenal medulla: involvement of glucocorticoids.
abstract: The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family regulates the endocrine stress response. Here, we examined the effect of immobilization stress (IMO) on gene expression of adrenomedullary CRH family members. Urocortin 2 (Ucn2) has the highest basal gene expression and is increased by > 30-fold in response to single IMO and about 10-fold after six daily repeated IMO. IMO also induced a smaller rise in CRH (six-fold) and CRH receptor type 1 (CRHR1; two-fold with single IMO). The influence of glucocorticoids was examined. Dexamethasone (DEX) or corticosterone greatly increased Ucn2 mRNA levels in PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The DEX elicited rise in Ucn2 was abolished by actinomycin D pre-treatment, indicating a transcriptionally mediated response. DEX also triggered a rise in CRHR1 and lowered CRH mRNA levels. In CRH-knockout mice, where the IMO-induced rise in corticosterone was attenuated, the response of IMO on Ucn2, as well as CRHR2 mRNAs was absent. Overall, the results suggest that the stress-triggered rise in glucocorticoids is involved in the large induction of Ucn2 mRNA levels by IMO, which may allow Ucn2 to act in an autocrine/paracrine fashion to modulate adrenomedullary function, or act as an endocrine hormone.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA.
authors: Andrej
authors: A
authors: Tillinger
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA.
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Nostramo
authors: Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Kvetnansky
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA.
authors: Lidia
authors: L
authors: Serova
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA.
authors: Esther L
authors: EL
authors: Sabban
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010455:Peptides; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D054832:Urocortins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
chemical_list: C101531:CRF receptor type 2; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010455:Peptides; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D054832:Urocortins; C514216:urocortin 3, rat; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: CRH receptors; adrenal medulla; corticotropin‐releasing hormone; immobilization stress; urocortin 2