scholarly journals Adaptive Changes in Basal and Stress-Induced HPA Activity in Lactating and Post-Lactating Female Rats

Endocrinology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (2) ◽  
pp. 749-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Windle ◽  
Susan A. Wood ◽  
Yvonne M. Kershaw ◽  
Stafford L. Lightman ◽  
Colin D. Ingram
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Mineralocorticoid Receptor ◽  
Blood Sampling ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Adaptive Changes ◽  
Noise Stress ◽  
Receptor Mrna ◽  
Corticosterone Release ◽  
Hpa Response ◽  
Rise Phase

Lactation represents a period of marked adaptation of the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal HPA axis. We characterized basal and stress-induced HPA activity during lactation and experimental weaning using dynamic blood sampling in rats. Pulsatile and diurnal corticosterone release occurred at all reproductive stages studied (virgin; day 10 of lactation; 3 and 14 days after experimental weaning on day 10 of lactation). However, in lactating rats the diurnal peak was significantly reduced, resulting in a flattened rhythm, and three days after weaning, basal HPA activity was markedly suppressed: the number of pulses and underlying basal levels of corticosterone were reduced and the diurnal rise phase delayed. Marked changes in the HPA response to 10 min noise stress also occurred at these times: being completely absent in lactating animals, but restored and highly prolonged in early weaned animals. Injection of methylprednisolone (2 mg, iv) was used to determine whether changes in fast glucocorticoid suppression correlated with these adaptive changes. Methylprednisolone induced a rapid suppression of corticosterone in virgin animals, but this effect was markedly attenuated in lactating and early weaned animals and was accompanied by significant changes in relative expression of hippocampal glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor mRNA. All effects were reversed or partially reversed 14 days after experimental weaning. Thus, the presence of the pups has an important influence on regulation of the HPA axis, and while postpartum adaptations are reversible, acute weaning evokes marked reorganisation of basal and stress-induced HPA activity.

LPS reduces BDNF and VEGF expression in the structures of the HPA axis of chronic social stressed female rats

Neuropeptides ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 17-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta M. Nowacka ◽  
Monika Paul-Samojedny ◽  
Anna M. Bielecka ◽  
Danuta Plewka ◽  
Piotr Czekaj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Vegf Expression ◽  
Stressed Female

Photoperiod regulation of mineralocorticoid receptor mRNA expression in hamster hippocampus

1998 ◽  
Vol 780 (2) ◽  
pp. 342-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott J Lance ◽  
Shannon C Miller ◽  
Laura I Holtsclaw ◽  
Barbara B Turner
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Mineralocorticoid Receptor ◽  
Receptor Mrna

Tactile Stimulation on Adulthood Modifies the HPA Axis, Neurotrophic Factors, and GFAP Signaling Reverting Depression-Like Behavior in Female Rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 6239-6250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kr. Roversi ◽  
Caren Tatiane de David Antoniazzi ◽  
L. H. Milanesi ◽  
H. Z. Rosa ◽  
M. Kronbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Neurotrophic Factors ◽  
Tactile Stimulation ◽  
Female Rats

scholarly journals Overexpression of Corticotropin Releasing Factor in the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala Advances Puberty and Disrupts Reproductive Cycles in Female Rats

Endocrinology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (10) ◽  
pp. 3934-3944 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. F. Li ◽  
M. H. Hu ◽  
S. Y. Li ◽  
C. Geach ◽  
A. Hikima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Pulse Generator ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Central Nucleus ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Central Administration ◽  
Corticosterone Secretion ◽  
Stress Changes

Abstract Prolonged exposure to environmental stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and generally disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Because CRF expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is a key modulator in adaptation to chronic stress, and central administration of CRF inhibits the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator, we tested the hypothesis that overexpression of CRF in the CeA of female rats alters anxiety behavior, dysregulates the HPA axis response to stress, changes pubertal timing, and disrupts reproduction. We used a lentiviral vector to increase CRF expression site specifically in the CeA of preweaning (postnatal day 12) female rats. Overexpression of CRF in the CeA increased anxiety-like behavior in peripubertal rats shown by a reduction in time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and a decrease in social interaction. Paradoxically, puberty onset was advanced but followed by irregular estrous cyclicity and an absence of spontaneous preovulatory LH surges associated with proestrous vaginal cytology in rats overexpressing CRF. Despite the absence of change in basal corticosterone secretion or induced by stress (lipopolysaccharide or restraint), overexpression of CRF in the CeA significantly decreased lipopolysaccharide, but not restraint, stress-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion in postpubertal ovariectomized rats, indicating a differential stress responsivity of the GnRH pulse generator to immunological stress and a potential adaptation of the HPA axis to chronic activation of amygdaloid CRF. These data suggest that the expression profile of this key limbic brain CRF system might contribute to the complex neural mechanisms underlying the increasing incidence of early onset of puberty on the one hand and infertility on the other attributed to chronic stress in modern human society.

scholarly journals N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Improved Depression via Neuroendocrine and Serotonergic System in Post-Menopausal Rats with Maternal Separation and Chronic Mild Stress

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1199-1199
Author(s):  
Jeong-Eun Choi ◽  
Yongsoon Park
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Maternal Separation ◽  
Chronic Mild Stress ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Serotonin Level ◽  
Mild Stress ◽  
Total N ◽  
Serotonergic Pathway ◽  
Post Menopausal ◽  
Hpa Axis Activity

Abstract Objectives The purpose of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that lifetime n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake improved depression through serotonergic pathway in post-menopausal rats with chronic mild stress (CMS) and maternal separation (MS). Methods Female rats were fed diets with 0% or 1 energy % n-3 PUFA during lifetime from embryonic day (ED) 0 to postnatal day (PND) 112, or 1% n-3 PUFA before weaning (ED 0-PND 20), or after weaning (PND 20–112). The rats in four diet group were allocated to brief separation from dam (non-MS group) or long-term separation (MS group) on PND 2–14, and then underwent CMS on PND 91–105 after ovariectomy. Thus, there were eight groups in total (n = 8/group). Results MS + CMS increased depressive behaviors, and modified hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, inflammation, serotonergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, and related miRNAs as compared to CMS alone. N-3 PUFA decreased depressive behaviors by decreasing immobility while increasing swimming during forced swim test, and increasing sucrose preference in rats with MS + CMS and with CMS. N-3 PUFA decreased HPA axis activity by modifying expressions of corticotrophin releasing factor and glucocorticoid receptor, and levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone. N-3 PUFA also reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2, and miRNA-218, and increased serotonergic neurotransmission, including expressions of cAMP response element binding protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and serotonin 1A receptor, and serotonin level, and expression of miRNA-155. In addition, lifetime supplementation of n-3 PUFA had greater effect than pre- or post-supplementation. N-3 PUFA had no effect on glutamatergic pathway including α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptor and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor. Conclusions The present study suggested that lifetime n-3 PUFA improved depression in post-menopausal rats with MS + CMS through modulation of serotonergic pathway by decreasing HPA axis activity but not glutamatergic pathway. Funding Sources This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (NRF-2018R1A2B6002486).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document