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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Biomarkers in an Animal Model for Revealing Neural, Hematologic, and Behavioral Correlates of PTSD
Published on: October 10, 2012
Doxapram increases corticotropin-releasing factor immunoreactivity and mRNA expression in the rat central nucleus of
Song-hyen Choi1, Sung-Jin Kim, Sang-Ha Park
1Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Sungbuk-gu, Anam-dong 5-ga 126-1, Seoul 136-705, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Doxapram causes panic anxiety in humans. To determine whether doxapram alters corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN), or bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), we used immunohistochemistry to measure CRF peptide in these brain areas after doxapram injection. Doxapram injection significantly increased CRF-like immunoreactivity (CRF-IR) within the CeA, but not in the BNST or PVN, and this increase was significant 2h after injection. In addition, doxapram significantly increased CRF mRNA expression within the CeA, and this was most prominent 30min after injection. These results suggest that doxapram selectively increases CRF expression within the CeA, and that this is mediated by increased CRF gene transcription. This increase in CRF-IR within the CeA might explain the doxapram-induced anxiety reaction.