Ae. Kresse et al., Colitis induces CRF expression in hypothalamic magnocellular neurons and blunts CRF gene response to stress in rats, AM J P-GAST, 281(5), 2001, pp. G1203-G1213
Citations number
58
Categorie Soggetti
da verificare
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER PHYSIOLOGY
We investigated hypothalamic neuronal corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)
gene expression changes in response to visceral inflammation induced by 2,4
,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNB) and acute stress. Seven days after TN
B, rats were subjected to water-avoidance stress (WAS) or restraint for 30
min and euthanized. Hypothalamic CRF primary transcripts (heteronuclear RNA
, hnRNA) and CRF and arginine vasopressin (AVP) mRNAs were assessed by in s
itu hybridization. Antisense S-35-labeled cRNA probes against CRF mRNA intr
onic and exonic sequences and an oligonucleotide probe against the AVP mRNA
were used. TNB induced macroscopic lesions and a fivefold elevation in mye
loperoxidase activity in the colon. Colitis increased CRF hnRNA and mRNA si
gnals in the magnocellular part of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypot
halamus (PVN) and supraoptic neurons, whereas AVP mRNA was not altered. Col
itis did not modify CRF hnRNA signal in the parvocellular part of the PVN (
pPVN), plasma corticosterone, and serum osmolarity levels. However, CRF hnR
NA expression in the pPVN and the rise in corticosterone and defecation ind
uced by WAS or restraint were blunted in colitic rats. These data show that
colitis upregulates CRF gene synthesis in magnocellular hypothalamic neuro
ns but dampens CRF gene transcription in the pPVN and plasma corticosterone
responses to environmental acute stressors.