title: The co-expression of GluN2B subunits of the NMDA receptors and glucocorticoid receptors after chronic restraint stress in low and high anxiety rats.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the mechanisms underlying behavioural differences between high- (HR) and low- (LR) anxiety rats, selected according to their behaviour in the contextual fear test (i.e., the duration of the freezing response was used as a discriminating variable), after a chronic restraint procedure (21days, 3h daily). We analysed the expression of the GluN2B subunits of the NMDA and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in selected brain structures (immunofluorescence). Following chronic restraint stress in the HR rats, we observed a decrease in the expression of the GRs and GluN2B subunits of the NMDA receptor in the prefrontal cortical areas and the hippocampus compared to the HR-control and the LR-restraint groups. These effects coincided with an increase in passive depressive-like behaviour in the Porsolt test of the HR rats. Moreover, in the hippocampus, the HR-restraint animals demonstrated decreased glutamate levels and a decreased glutamate/glutamine ratio compared to the LR-restraint rats. Furthermore, the HR-restraint group had increased GRs/GluN2B subunits colocalisation in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) compared to the HR-control and the LR-restraint rats. The present results suggest that in HR rats exposed to chronic restraint stress, the hippocampal and cortical glutamatergic system components are changed. These effects could have a negative influence on the feedback mechanisms regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as well as on the behavioural processes expressed as depressive-like symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: mlehner@ipin.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehner
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CEPT, 1B Banacha Streeet, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wisłowska-Stanek
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gryz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sobolewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Turzyńska
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chmielewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CEPT, 1B Banacha Streeet, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krząścik
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skórzewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CEPT, 1B Banacha Streeet, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Płaźnik
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005239:Fear; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate