scholarly journals The role of corticotropin-releasing factor in depression and anxiety disorders

1999 ◽  
Vol 160 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Arborelius ◽  
MJ Owens ◽  
PM Plotsky ◽  
CB Nemeroff
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Antidepressant Treatment ◽  
Early Life Stress ◽  
Corticotropin Releasing Factor ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Neuronal Systems

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a 41 amino acid-containing peptide, appears to mediate not only the endocrine but also the autonomic and behavioral responses to stress. Stress, in particular early-life stress such as childhood abuse and neglect, has been associated with a higher prevalence rate of affective and anxiety disorders in adulthood. In the present review, we describe the evidence suggesting that CRF is hypersecreted from hypothalamic as well as from extrahypothalamic neurons in depression, resulting in hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and elevations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of CRF. This increase in CRF neuronal activity is also believed to mediate certain of the behavioral symptoms of depression involving sleep and appetite disturbances, reduced libido, and psychomotor changes. The hyperactivity of CRF neuronal systems appears to be a state marker for depression because HPA axis hyperactivity normalizes following successful antidepressant treatment. Similar biochemical and behavioral findings have been observed in adult rats and monkeys that have been subjected to early-life stress. In contrast, clinical studies have not revealed any consistent changes in CSF CRF concentrations in patients with anxiety disorders; however, preclinical findings strongly implicate a role for CRF in the pathophysiology of certain anxiety disorders, probably through its effects on central noradrenergic systems. The findings reviewed here support the hypothesis that CRF receptor antagonists may represent a novel class of antidepressants and/or anxiolytics.

scholarly journals Combined dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing factor test in chronic fatigue syndrome

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 963-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Van Den Eede ◽  
G. Moorkens ◽  
W. Hulstijn ◽  
B. Van Houdenhove ◽  
P. Cosyns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Early Life Stress ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Corticotropin Releasing Factor ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
History Of ◽  
Cortisol Responses

BackgroundStudies of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) point to hypofunction, although there are negative reports. Suggested mechanisms include a reduced hypothalamic or supra-hypothalamic stimulus to the HPA axis and enhanced sensitivity to the negative feedback of glucocorticoids. The aim of the current study was to investigate HPA axis function in CFS with the dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing factor (Dex/CRF) test, in analogy with research in affective disorders.MethodThirty-four well-characterized female CFS patients and 25 healthy control subjects participated in the low-dose Dex/CRF test. Current major depressive episode was an exclusion criterion. History of early-life stress (ELS) was assessed with the Structured Trauma Interview.ResultsSalivary cortisol responses after 0.5 mg Dex were lower in CFS patients than in controls (before 100 μg CRF, p=0.038; after 100 μg CRF, p=0.015). A secondary analysis revealed an influence of early-life stress and of oestrogen intake. After removal of the 10 participants who were taking an oral oestrogen, patients without a history of ELS showed lower cortisol responses than patients with ELS and controls (before CRF, p=0.005; after CRF, p=0.008).ConclusionsCFS is globally associated with reduced cortisol responses in the combined low-dose Dex/CRF test, but this effect is only clearly present in CFS patients without a history of ELS. This study provides further support for an enhanced glucocorticoid negative feedback and/or a reduced central HPA axis drive in CFS. Furthermore, it demonstrates that ELS is an important variable to consider in CFS research.

The effects of early life stress on context fear generalization in adult rats.

2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie D. Elliott ◽  
Rick Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Early Life Stress ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Fear Generalization

Abstract 403: Renal Denervation Reveals Renal Sympathetic Activation in Adult Rats Exposed to Early Life Stress

Hypertension ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Analia S Loria ◽  
Michael W Brands ◽  
David M Pollock ◽  
Jennifer S Pollock
Keyword(s):  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Renal Denervation ◽  
Early Life Stress ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Renal Nerves ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Baseline Conditions ◽  
Control Sham ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

We previously reported that maternal separation (MS), a model of early life stress, does not modify baseline blood pressure in adult rats, but increases sensitivity to hypertensive stimuli. Under baseline conditions, adult male rats exposed to MS have significantly reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Acute phenylephrine-induced reductions in renal blood flow is significantly attenuated in rats exposed to MS compared to control rats. Furthermore, norephinephrine (NE) content was increased in renal cortex of MS rats compared to control rats (p<0.05). These data indicate that MS induces increased renal sympathetic outflow. Thus, we hypothesized that renal denervation will normalize GFR in rats exposed to MS. Male WKY rat pups were separated from their mothers for 3 hrs/day during the morning hours from day 2 to 14 of life. Male non-separated littermates served as control rats. Experiments were performed in 300-320 g adult rats. Denervation (DnX) was performed mechanically stripping all visible renal nerves followed by topical phenol (10%) on the renal artery. Control-sham, MS-sham, control-DnX, and MS-DnX rats were instrumented with catheters in the femoral vein and abdominal aorta. Rats were placed in metabolic cages, connected to swivels, and allowed to recover for 4-5 days. Sodium intake was clamped at 2.8 mEq/day in both groups by combining sodium deficient diet and 24 hr/day 0.9% iv saline infusion (20 ml/day). GFR was determined by plasma clearance of [125I]iothalamate in the conscious state. During baseline conditions, MAP was not different between control-sham and MS-sham rats (99±4 vs 97±2 mmHg, respectively). MAP was reduced in both control-DnX and MS-DnX rats (91±2 mmHg and 83±3 mmHg, p<0.05, respectively) compared with the respective sham group. The reduction in MAP tended to be greater in MS than in control rats (-9±1 and -14±2 mmHg, p=0.074). DnX did not modify GFR in control rats (sham: 3.1±0.1 ml/min vs DnX: 3.5±0.4 ml/min). However, DnX significantly increased GFR in rats exposed to MS (sham: 2.4±0.2 ml/min vs DnX: 3.8±0.4 ml/min, p<0.05). These data support our hypothesis that MS induces increased renal sympathetic tone to reduce GFR in MS male rats, and may contribute to the exacerbated response to hypertensive stimuli observed in MS rats.

Abstract 008: Early Life Stress Induces Renal Pro-inflammatory Immune Responses

Hypertension ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen De Miguel ◽  
Dao H Ho ◽  
Analia S Loria ◽  
Ijeoma Obi ◽  
Jennifer S Pollock
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Maternal Separation ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Early Life Stress ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Activation Markers ◽  
Ifn Gamma ◽  
Inflammatory Status

We previously reported that maternal separation (MatSep), an animal model of early life stress, sensitizes rats to pro-hypertensive stimuli in adulthood. We hypothesized that MatSep induces a renal pro-inflammatory immune response. Immune cell populations and expression of cytokines were assessed by magnetic bead isolation, FACS analysis, ELISA and RT-PCR in adult male MatSep and normally-reared littermate control rats. Circulating and renal mononuclear or T cell numbers were similar between control and MatSep rats (n=4-11/group, p>0.05). Both groups presented similar percentages of circulating macrophages and T H , T C , and T reg cells (n=4, p>0.05). However, the percentage of circulating B cells was significantly decreased in MatSep rats (23.7±1.2% vs. 20.1±0.7%; n=4, p<0.05). Pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1Beta was significantly elevated in kidneys from MatSep rats (4.4±0.5 vs. 7.9±1.0 pg/mg prot; n=7-8/group; p<0.05). However, IFN-gamma, IL-6, and IL-4 were not different between control and MatSep rats. To further assess the immune system in MatSep and control rats, we acutely challenged adult rats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2 mg/kg; i.v., 14 h). LPS significantly elevated renal expression of pro-inflammatory chemokine receptors (CCR3, CCR4, CXCR4), cytokines (IFN-gamma, CCL3, CCL4, IL-16), and activation markers (CD40, CD40lg) in MatSep rats (4 to 6 fold increase; n=5/group, p<0.05), suggesting that MatSep induces an exaggerated pro-inflammatory renal immune response to LPS. In conclusion, early life stress induces a renal pro-inflammatory status in adulthood that leads to sensitization to further immune challenges. Funded by P01 HL 69999 to JSP, NIH T32 DK007545 to CDM, F32 HL 116145 to DHH and K99/R00 HL 111354 to ASL.

The Role of Early Life Stress in HPA Axis and Anxiety

2020 ◽  
pp. 141-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario F. Juruena ◽  
Filip Eror ◽  
Anthony J. Cleare ◽  
Allan H. Young
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Early Life Stress

scholarly journals Effects of Early Life Stress on Bone Homeostasis in Mice and Humans

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6634
Author(s):  
Karin Wuertz-Kozak ◽  
Martin Roszkowski ◽  
Elena Cambria ◽  
Andrea Block ◽  
Gisela A. Kuhn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Bone Microarchitecture ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Early Life Stress ◽  
Bone Homeostasis ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Depressive Patients

Bone pathology is frequent in stressed individuals. A comprehensive examination of mechanisms linking life stress, depression and disturbed bone homeostasis is missing. In this translational study, mice exposed to early life stress (MSUS) were examined for bone microarchitecture (μCT), metabolism (qPCR/ELISA), and neuronal stress mediator expression (qPCR) and compared with a sample of depressive patients with or without early life stress by analyzing bone mineral density (BMD) (DXA) and metabolic changes in serum (osteocalcin, PINP, CTX-I). MSUS mice showed a significant decrease in NGF, NPYR1, VIPR1 and TACR1 expression, higher innervation density in bone, and increased serum levels of CTX-I, suggesting a milieu in favor of catabolic bone turnover. MSUS mice had a significantly lower body weight compared to control mice, and this caused minor effects on bone microarchitecture. Depressive patients with experiences of childhood neglect also showed a catabolic pattern. A significant reduction in BMD was observed in depressive patients with childhood abuse and stressful life events during childhood. Therefore, future studies on prevention and treatment strategies for both mental and bone disease should consider early life stress as a risk factor for bone pathologies.

P.579 Sex differences in depressive-like behavior in adult rats subjected to early life stress

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. S405
Author(s):  
N. Broshevitskaya ◽  
I. Pavlova ◽  
M. Zaichenko ◽  
V. Gruzdeva ◽  
G. Grigoryan
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Early Life Stress ◽  
Adult Rats

scholarly journals Effects of Early-Life Stress on the Brain and Behaviors: Implications of Early Maternal Separation in Rodents

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 7212
Author(s):  
Mayumi Nishi
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Maternal Separation ◽  
Early Life Stress ◽  
Emotional Behavior ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
The Brain

Early-life stress during the prenatal and postnatal periods affects the formation of neural networks that influence brain function throughout life. Previous studies have indicated that maternal separation (MS), a typical rodent model equivalent to early-life stress and, more specifically, to child abuse and/or neglect in humans, can modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, affecting subsequent neuronal function and emotional behavior. However, the neural basis of the long-lasting effects of early-life stress on brain function has not been clarified. In the present review, we describe the alterations in the HPA-axis activity—focusing on serum corticosterone (CORT)—and in the end products of the HPA axis as well as on the CORT receptor in rodents. We then introduce the brain regions activated during various patterns of MS, including repeated MS and single exposure to MS at various stages before weaning, via an investigation of c-Fos expression, which is a biological marker of neuronal activity. Furthermore, we discuss the alterations in behavior and gene expression in the brains of adult mice exposed to MS. Finally, we ask whether MS repeats itself and whether intergenerational transmission of child abuse and neglect is possible.

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