Biological psychiatry
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Biological psychiatry · Apr 1999
Heightened transcription for enzymes involved in norepinephrine biosynthesis in the rat locus coeruleus by immobilization stress.
The locus coeruleus (LC), a target for CRH neurons, is critically involved in responses to stress. Various physiological stresses increase norepinephrine turnover, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) enzymatic activity, protein and mRNA levels in LC cell bodies and terminals; however, the effect of stress on other enzymes involved in norepinephrine biosynthesis in the LC is unknown. ⋯ This study is the first to reveal transcriptional activation of the genes encoding catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes in the LC by stress. In addition to TH, changes in DBH and GTPCH gene expression may also contribute to the development of stress-triggered affective disorders.