Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-4-17
pubmed:abstractText
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ovulatory cycle interferes with the effect of the acute-phase response of a systemic immune activation on the transcription of the immediate early gene c-fos and the stress-related neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the brains of female rats. Throughout the day of proestrus and diestrus-2 (09.00, 12.00, 15.00 h), adult rats received either a single intraperitoneal injection of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 200 micrograms/100 g body weight) or the vehicle solution and were killed 3 h later (12.00, 15.00, 18.00 h). Frozen brains were mounted on a microtome, cut in 30-micron slices and then processed for the detection of c-fos mRNA and CRH primary transcript (heteronuclear [hnRNA]) by means of in situ hybridization histochemistry using 35S-labeled exonic and intronic probes, respectively. LPS injection induced a profound expression of c-fos mRNA in the several nuclei and areas of the brain, such as the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis/medial preoptic area, supraoptic nucleus, parvo- and magnocellular divisions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), arcuate nucleus/median eminence, central nucleus of the amygdala, locus coeruleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, area postrema and ventrolateral medulla. Interestingly, the intensity of expression of c-fos mRNA depended on the phase of the estrous cycle and/or the time of the day. Indeed, in several of the structures described above, LPS induced a more pronounced c-fos signal in the morning of proestrus than the afternoon and diestrus-2. CRH primary transcript was significantly increased by LPS treatment selectively in the parvocellular division of the PVN and the highest hybridization signal was observed in the morning of proestrus, a period where a large number of c-fos-positive cells were colocalized in CRH-immunoreactive neurons. A significant increase in the levels of AVP hnRNA was also observed in the parvocellular PVN of animals sacrificed at noon and early afternoon of both pro- and diestrus days. These results provide evidence that the neuroendocrine events regulating the reproductive cyclicity influence the endotoxin-induced activation of the early gene c-fos in selective structures of the brain and the stimulation of neurons directly involved in the regulation of the HPA axis. It is possible that the gonadal status of female mammals plays a crucial role in the integration of the organism in the presence of foreign material in preventing an exaggerated immune response during particular phases of the ovulatory cycle. The capacity of female animals to modulate the intensity through which the neuronal circuitry activated during immunogenic processes is likely to be an elegant sexual dimorphism participating in the adjustment of the responses in line with the physiological demand.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0028-3835
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
65
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
29-46
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
Influence of the estrous cycle on c-fos and CRH gene transcription in the brain of endotoxin-challenged female rats.
pubmed:affiliation
Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, CHUL Research Center and Laval University, Québec, Canada.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't