PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS INDUCES HEAT-SHOCK COGNATE PROTEIN (HSC)70MESSENGER-RNA IN THE CEREBRAL-CORTEX AND STOMACH OF RATS

Families of 70 kDa heat shock proteins have essential roles in cellula r coping to noxious stimuli. However, their roles in psychophysiologic al stress have not been precisely clarified. We tested our hypothesis that heat shock cognate protein (HSC)70 messenger RNA would increase i n stress-vulnerable organs under psychophysiological stress. In contro l rats, cerebral HSC70 mRNAs were constitutively expressed while gastr ic HSC70 mRNAs were scarcely identified. Restraint-water immersion str ess significantly increased the level of cerebral HSC70 mRNAs for 6 h and 12 h. Stress for 6 h with recovery for 6 h induced more gastric HS C70 mRNA levels than that without recovery, while stress for 12 h expr essed the highest gastric HCS70 mRNA levels. Hypothermia, induced by w ater immersion, excluded a possible role of hyperthermia in inducing H SC70 mRNA. Our results point to a crucial cytoprotective role for fami lies of heat shock proteins in stress-vulnerable brain-gut link in mam mals under psychophysiological stress.