Rapid Induction of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Gene Transcription in the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Developing Rat1

Hormonal responses to acute stress rely on the rapid induction of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) production in the mammalian hypothalamus, with subsequent instructive steps culminating in corticosterone release at the periphery. Hypothalamic CRH neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus are therefore considered as ‘stress neurons’. However, significant morphological and functional diversity among neurons that can transiently produce CRH in other hypothalamic nuclei has been proposed, particularly as histochemical and molecular biology evidence associates CRH to both GABA and glutamate neurotransmission. Here, we review recent advances through single-cell RNA sequencing and circuit mapping to suggest that CRH production reflects a state switch in hypothalamic neurons and thus confers functional competence rather than being an identity mark of phenotypically segregated neurons. We show that CRH mRNA transcripts can therefore be seen in GABAergic, glutamatergic and dopaminergic neuronal contingents in the hypothalamus. We then distinguish ‘stress neurons’ of the paraventricular nucleus that constitutively express secretagogin, a Ca2+ sensor critical for the stimulus-driven assembly of the molecular machinery underpinning the fast regulated exocytosis of CRH at the median eminence. Cumulatively, we infer that CRH neurons are functionally and molecularly more diverse than previously thought.

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Differential effects of forced swim-stress on the corticotropin-releasing hormone and vasopressin gene transcription in the parvocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus of rat hypothalamus

Neuroscience Letters ◽

10.1016/j.neulet.2004.01.041 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 358 (3) ◽

pp. 201-204 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Ya-Qiu Jiang ◽

Hisayoshi Kawashima ◽

Yasumasa Iwasaki ◽

Katsuya Uchida ◽

Koreaki Sugimoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Transcription ◽

Paraventricular Nucleus ◽

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone ◽

Swim Stress ◽

Releasing Hormone ◽

Differential Effects ◽

Rat Hypothalamus ◽

Forced Swim ◽

Forced Swim Stress ◽

Vasopressin Gene

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Effect of different types of stressors on peptide messenger ribonucleic acids in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1280485 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 128 (6) ◽

pp. 485-492 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Sandra Ceccatelli ◽

Catello Orazzo

Keyword(s):

Paraventricular Nucleus ◽

Immobilization Stress ◽

Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone ◽

Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus ◽

Male Rats ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone ◽

Ribonucleic Acids ◽

Releasing Hormone ◽

Different Types

Using in situ hybridization we have studied the effects of different types of stressors, such as ether, immobilization, cold and swimming, on the expression of several peptide messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of adult male rats. Paraventricular nucleus sections were hybridized using synthetic oligonucleotide probes complementary to mRNA for corticotropin-releasing hormone, neurotensin, enkephalin and thyrotropin-releasing hormone. A clear upregulation of neurotensin mRNA was seen after ether and, to a lesser extent, after immobilization stress, whereas after the two other stressors neurotensin mRNA was undetectable, as in control rats. An increase in enkephalin mRNA was observed in a selective region of the dorsal part of the medioparvocellular subdivision of the paraventricular nucleus only after ether and immobilization stress. No significant changes were seen in corticotropin-releasing hormone and thyrotropin-releasing hormone mRNA levels in any of the experimental paradigms. The present results show selective changes for various peptide mRNAs in the paraventricular nucleus after various types of stress. Significant effects could be demonstrated only on neurotensin and enkephalin mRNA after ether and immobilization stress. This suggests that adaptive changes in the rate of synthesis, processing and transport of the peptide may develop over a longer period of time.

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