Sublethal hypoxia up-regulates corticotropin releasing factor receptor type I in fetal hippocampal neurons

We analysed the influence of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) on the expres sion of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) receptors (CRF-R1 and CRF-R2) in fetal hippocampal neurons in vitro. A 2 h exposure of neurons to OGD res ulted in death of 18+/-2.8% cells at 24 h following exposure, which was con sidered sublethal hypoxia. Expression of both receptors was quantitated by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and We stern blotting. Levels of mRNA for CRF-R1 were increased 3.2-fold compared to control neurons, while CRF-R2 mRNA levels remained unchanged. The increa se of CRF-RI mRNA levels was observed at 6 h and peaked at 24 h. CRF-RI pro tein levels were also increased by 2.4-fold and 1.7-fold at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. These data suggest that the effects of CRF on neuronal surviv al are mediated in part through the induction and expression of CRF-RI foll owing a hypoxic/ischemic insult. NeuroReport 11:3123-3126 (C) 2000 Lippinco tt Williams & Wilkins.