help button home button Endocrine Society Endocrinology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Chao, H. M.
Right arrow Articles by McEwen, B. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Chao, H. M.
Right arrow Articles by McEwen, B. S.

Endocrinology, Vol 126, 3124-3130, Copyright © 1990 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Glucocorticoid regulation of preproenkephalin messenger ribonucleic acid in the rat striatum

HM Chao and BS McEwen
Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, New York, New York 10021.

Glucocorticoids regulate the level of preproenkephalin mRNA expression in a number of cell systems. This study investigated the expression of preproenkephalin mRNA in the brain and its regulation by glucocorticoids in vivo. Two different methods for mRNA quantitation were employed. Total RNA isolated from dissected brain tissue was analyzed in an RNAse T2 protection assay. In addition, we have used in situ hybridization to brain sections to assess the expression of preproenkephalin mRNA. The results demonstrate that in the striatum the preproenkephalin mRNA is expressed at a high level and is regulated by glucocorticoids. There is a decrease in striatal preproenkephalin mRNA after adrenalectomy (ADX), and ADX animals replaced with corticosterone express higher levels of striatal preproenkephalin mRNA than ADX animals. By in situ hybridization we have determined that the corticosterone-induced increase in striatal preproenkephalin mRNA is evident after 16 h, but not after 2 h, of corticosterone replacement of ADX animals. Elevation of circulating corticosterone levels in intact rats by 2-3 h of restraint stress, a multiple daily stress regimen over 1-21 days, or corticosterone injection did not change the level of preproenkephalin mRNA in the striatum; however, a single 16-h restraint stress resulted in a decreased level of expression. In intact rats there was a diurnal variation in the level of striatal preproenkephalin mRNA expression; ADX resulted in a decrease in the mRNA level, but did not abolish the diurnal variation in expression. Thus, while there is clearly regulation of striatal preproenkephalin mRNA by glucocorticoids, our results provide evidence for regulation by nonglucocorticoid mechanisms as well.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
M. Marinelli, B. Aouizerate, M. Barrot, M. Le Moal, and P. V. Piazza
Dopamine-dependent responses to morphine depend on glucocorticoid receptors
PNAS, June 23, 1998; 95(13): 7742 - 7747.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
P. Svenningsson and B. B. Fredholm
Glucocorticoids Regulate the Expression of Adenosine A1 but not A2A Receptors in Rat Brain
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., February 1, 1997; 280(2): 1094 - 1101.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1990 by The Endocrine Society