Decreased glucocorticoid receptor mRNA and dysfunction of HPA axis in rats after removal of the cholinergic innervation to hippocampus

Jung Soo Han, Jennifer L. Bizon, Hyun Ja Chun, Courtney E. Maus, Michela Gallagher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Excess exposure to glucocorticoids can have deleterious effects on physiology and cognition. Glucocorticoids acting via receptors located in hippocampal neurons contribute to negative feedback after stress by terminating the further release of glucocorticoids. The current study investigated the effects of selective immunolesions of septo-hippocampal cholinergic neurons on hippocampal corticosterone receptor mRNA and on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity. As evaluated by in situ hybridization, hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA, but not mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) mRNA, was significantly decreased in lesioned rats compared to controls. In a companion study, the peak corticosterone response to one hour of restraint stress did not differ between lesion and control groups but the post-stress decline of corticosterone was more protracted in the lesioned rats. These findings are discussed in terms of their possible relevance to ageing as age-related degeneration of the basal forebrain cholinergic system may contribute to the commonly observed dysfunction of the HPA axis in older animals.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1399-1404
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience
Volume16
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Cholinergic lesion
  • GR
  • Glucocorticoid
  • Hippocampus
  • MR
  • Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)

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