S. Miyahara et al., Effects of repeated stress on expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-6 receptor mRNAs in rat hypothalamus and midbrain, LIFE SCI, 66(6), 2000, pp. PL93-PL98
We examined the effects of single and repeated stress on the expression of
interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) mRNAs in the rat midbrain an
d hypothalamus using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PC
R). Following a single episode of restraint stress for 4 hours (1R) or 4 ho
urs per day on two (2R) or three (3R) consecutive days, the hypothalamus an
d midbrain were removed immediately and the levels of IL-6 and IL-6R mRNAs
in both regions were determined. Regional differences in stress-related cha
nges in mRNA levels were noted. The expression of IL-6 mRNA in the hypothal
amus did not change in 1R group but decreased in 2R and 3R groups. The expr
ession of IL-6R mRNA in the same region significantly dminished in all grou
ps. In the midbrain, the expression of IL-6 mRNA increased in 1R group and
decreased in 2R and 3R, while the expression of IL-6R mRNA significantly di
minished in 1R and 3R groups but was not different from control in 2R group
. Our findings indicate that:repeated stress in rats produce changes in IL-
6 and IL-6R mRNAs in the midbrain and hypothalamus that are different than
those of a (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.