Intrahippocampal Colchicine Alters Hypothalamic Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Hippocampal Steroid Receptor mRNA in Rat Brain

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Abstract

The hippocampus appears to be an important modulator of the negative feedback effects of glucocorticoids on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It is not known if hippocampal subfields CA1-4 or the dentate gyrus differentially alter gene expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. We, therefore, examined the effects of selective destruction of dentate gyrus granule cells, which send excitatory glutaminergic inputs to subfields CA4, CA3 and CA2, on CRH expression in the PVN. To determine the possible involvement of steroid receptors in the regulation of CRH expression, we examined the effects of intrahippocampal colchicine on gene expression of the mineralocorticoid (MR; type I) and glucocorticoid (GR; type II) receptors in hippocampal CA fields and dentate gyrus. Colchicine produced a selective loss of dentate gyrus granule cells without affecting pyramidal cells in CA1-4 as early as 1 day after injection; granule cells were completely destroyed after 3 days. CRH mRNA levels were reduced by 38-48% in the PVN 2-14 days after colchicine. MR mRNA levels were decreased in dorsal and ventral CA fields 1-7 days after colchicine. GR mRNA levels were relatively unchanged, showing a slight decrease only in dorsal CA fields on days 2-7. Unexpectedly, CRH was transiently expressed in dorsal and ventral CA fields 1-3 days after colchicine. In the same time period, mRNA levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate kinase were decreased, suggesting that increases in neural metabolic activity, indicated by this marker, are not responsible for the transient CRH effect. The results suggest that the dentate gyrus is important for maintenance of steroid hormone receptor mRNA levels in the hippocampus and CRH expression in the hypothalamic PVN, and that CRH gene expression is differentially regulated in the hypothalamus and hippocampus.

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Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): NEN

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Neuroendocrinology

Journal ID (doi): 10.1159/issn.0028-3835

Title: Neuroendocrinology

Publisher: S. Karger AG

ISSN (Print): 0028-3835

ISSN (Electronic): 1423-0194

Publication date Subscription-year: 1992

Publication date (Print): 1992

Publication date (Electronic): 07 April 2008

Volume: 55

Issue: 2

Pages: 121-133

Affiliations

^aSection on Functional Neuroanatomy, Clinical Neuroendocrinology Branch, and ^bLaboratory of Cell Biology, NIMH, Bethesda, Md,, USA

Article

Publisher ID: 126107 Other ID: Neuroendocrinology 1992;55:121–133

DOI: 10.1159/000126107

PubMed ID: 1320216

SO-VID: ebe64d38-6ff3-4376-8ffd-4fc773b0171a

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Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.

History

Date received : 07 March 1991

Date accepted : 07 May 1991

Page count

Pages: 13

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