title: Brain mineralocorticoid receptor function in control of salt balance and stress-adaptation.
abstract: We will highlight in honor of Randall Sakai the peculiar characteristics of the brain mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in its response pattern to the classical mineralocorticoid aldosterone and the naturally occurring glucocorticoids corticosterone and cortisol. Neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and circumventricular organs express MR, which mediate selectively the action of aldosterone on salt appetite, sympathetic outflow and volume regulation. The MR-containing NTS neurons innervate limbic-forebrain circuits enabling aldosterone to also modulate reciprocally arousal, motivation, fear and reward. MR expressed in abundance in this limbic-forebrain circuitry, is target of cortisol and corticosterone in modulation of appraisal processes, memory performance and selection of coping strategy. Complementary to this role of limbic MR is the action mediated by the lower affinity glucocorticoid receptors (GR), which promote subsequently memory storage of the experience and facilitate behavioral adaptation. Current evidence supports the hypothesis that an imbalance between MR- and GR-mediated actions compromises resilience and adaptation to stress.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: erdekloet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Edo Ronald
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: de Kloet
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joëls
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid
keywords: Aldosterone; Brain; Corticosterone; Cortisol; Glucocorticoid receptors; Mineralocorticoid receptors; Salt appetite; Stress