International journal of molecular medicine
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Rats exposed to single-prolonged stress (SPS) showed enhanced inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system and alteration in the glucocorticoid/mineralocorticoid receptor. Dysfunction of the HPA axis is one of the core neuroendocrine abnormalities of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Serotonergic receptor, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) have been proposed to play major roles in dysfunction of the HPA axis. ⋯ In this study, we investigated the relationships between the changes of GR in hippocampus as well as CRF in hypothalamus and the activity of 5-HT1A receptor in SPS rats. We exposed rats to SPS with or without prior treatment with WAY100635 (the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist), and observed behavioral changes, GR levels in the hippocampus and CRF levels in the hypothalamus by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT-PCR seven days after SPS. Our results demonstrate that SPS increases expression of GR and CRF, which were partially inhibited by WAY-100635.