TY - JOUR
T1 - Chronic stress decreases the expression of sympathetic markers in the pineal gland and increases plasma melatonin concentration in rats
AU - Dagnino-Subiabre, Alexies
AU - Orellana, Juan A.
AU - Carmona-Fontaine, Carlos
AU - Montiel, Juan
AU - Díaz-Velíz, Gabriela
AU - Serón-Ferré, María
AU - Wyneken, Ursula
AU - Concha, Miguel L.
AU - Aboitiz, Francisco
PY - 2006/6
Y1 - 2006/6
N2 - Chronic stress affects brain areas involved in learning and emotional responses. Although most studies have concentrated on the effect of stress on limbic-related brain structures, in this study we investigated whether chronic stress might induce impairments in diencephalic structures associated with limbic components of the stress response. Specifically, we analyzed the effect of chronic immobilization stress on the expression of sympathetic markers in the rat epithalamic pineal gland by immunohistochemistry and western blot, whereas the plasma melatonin concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. We found that chronic stress decreased the expression of three sympathetic markers in the pineal gland, tyrosine hydroxylase, the p75 neurotrophin receptor and α-tubulin, while the same treatment did not affect the expression of the non-specific sympathetic markers Erk1 and Erk2, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, these results were correlated with a significant increase in plasma melatonin concentration in stressed rats when compared with control animals. Our findings indicate that stress may impair pineal sympathetic inputs, leading to an abnormal melatonin release that may contribute to environmental maladaptation. In addition, we propose that the pineal gland is a target of glucocorticoid damage during stress.
AB - Chronic stress affects brain areas involved in learning and emotional responses. Although most studies have concentrated on the effect of stress on limbic-related brain structures, in this study we investigated whether chronic stress might induce impairments in diencephalic structures associated with limbic components of the stress response. Specifically, we analyzed the effect of chronic immobilization stress on the expression of sympathetic markers in the rat epithalamic pineal gland by immunohistochemistry and western blot, whereas the plasma melatonin concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. We found that chronic stress decreased the expression of three sympathetic markers in the pineal gland, tyrosine hydroxylase, the p75 neurotrophin receptor and α-tubulin, while the same treatment did not affect the expression of the non-specific sympathetic markers Erk1 and Erk2, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, these results were correlated with a significant increase in plasma melatonin concentration in stressed rats when compared with control animals. Our findings indicate that stress may impair pineal sympathetic inputs, leading to an abnormal melatonin release that may contribute to environmental maladaptation. In addition, we propose that the pineal gland is a target of glucocorticoid damage during stress.
KW - Depression
KW - Epithalamus
KW - Melatonin
KW - Pineal gland
KW - Stress
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.03787.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.03787.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 16539651
AN - SCOPUS:33646551760
SN - 0022-3042
VL - 97
SP - 1279
EP - 1287
JO - Journal of Neurochemistry
JF - Journal of Neurochemistry
IS - 5
ER -