STRESS-INDUCED EXPRESSION OF TRANSCRIPTIONAL REPRESSOR ICER IN THE ADRENAL-GLAND

Second messenger cyclic AMP plays a central role in signalling within the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Changes in gene expressi on are central to long-term adaptations made in response to stress in the adrenal gland. Here we demonstrate that expression of the cAMP ind ucible transcriptional repressor, ICER (Inducible cAMP Early Repressor ), is rapidly and powerfully induced in response to surgical stress in the rat adrenal gland. Hypophysectomisation blocks stress-induced ICE R expression. Finally we demonstrate that injection of the pituitary h ormone ACTH (Adrenocorticotropin Hormone) induces robust ICER expressi on in the adrenal cortex. Thus, induction of the transcriptional repre ssor ICER is coupled to the HPA axis response to stress. (C) 1998 Fede ration of European Biochemical Societies.