Related Experiment Videos
Corticosteroid action and neuroendocrine-immune interactions
1Unit on Neuroendocrine Immunology and Behavior, Clinical Neuroendocrinology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|November 30, 1994
Summary
LEW/N rats exhibit impaired glucocorticoid feedback during inflammation due to aberrant hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) regulation, leading to uncontrolled inflammation. This is linked to altered glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) regulation in the hippocampus.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Immunology
- Physiology
Background:
- Glucocorticoid feedback is crucial for regulating inflammation via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA).
- LEW/N rats display blunted corticosterone concentrations and altered basal responses, suggesting HPAA dysregulation.
- Impaired glucocorticoid feedback contributes to uncontrolled inflammation observed in LEW/N rat models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulation of glucocorticoid feedback and HPAA activity in LEW/N rats during inflammation.
- To compare HPAA responses and corticosteroid receptor regulation in LEW/N rats with other rat strains (SD and F344/N).
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of HPAA responses (ACTH and corticosterone) in LEW/N rats versus SD and F344/N rats.
- Examination of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) regulation in the hippocampus of LEW/N rats.
Main Results:
- LEW/N rats show aberrant CRH regulation, resulting in blunted corticosterone levels.
- Hippocampal GR and MR regulation differs in LEW/N rats compared to F344/N rats.
- Adult LEW/N rats exhibit HPAA responses similar to immature rats, indicating disturbed HPAA ontogeny or regulation.
Conclusions:
- Impaired HPAA reactivity in LEW/N rats may stem from dysregulated central MR and/or GR.
- Altered GR regulation in LEW/N rats could underlie their susceptibility to uncontrolled inflammation.
- Further research on GR dynamics in local inflammation is needed to fully understand corticosteroid sensitivity.