BACKGROUND: When rats are subjected to chronic stress for 2 weeks, a significant decrease in hippocampal serotonin (5-HT)1A messenger RNA (mRNA) is observed. We wanted to investigate whether stress, administered for shorter periods of time, would result in decreases in 5-HT1A gene expression in hippocampus. METHODS: In one experiment, rats were either stressed daily for 1 week or implanted with two corticosterone pellets to produce elevated corticosterone levels. In another experiment, rats were subjected to a severe acute stressor and sacrificed 1 day or 1 week after the stressor. RESULTS: We found that 24 hours after the acute stress, rats showed a significant decrease in 5-HT1A mRNA levels in CA1 and the dentate gyrus compared to controls. No significant changes in 5-HT1A mRNA levels were detected in any of the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although 1 week of chronic stress is not sufficient to cause significant decreases in hippocampal 5-HT1A mRNA levels, a severe and prolonged acute stress is capable of down-regulating, at least transiently, 5-HT1A mRNA gene expression in hippocampus.
BACKGROUND: When rats are subjected to chronic stress for 2 weeks, a significant decrease in hippocampal serotonin (5-HT)1A messenger RNA (mRNA) is observed. We wanted to investigate whether stress, administered for shorter periods of time, would result in decreases in 5-HT1A gene expression in hippocampus. METHODS: In one experiment, rats were either stressed daily for 1 week or implanted with two corticosterone pellets to produce elevated corticosterone levels. In another experiment, rats were subjected to a severe acute stressor and sacrificed 1 day or 1 week after the stressor. RESULTS: We found that 24 hours after the acute stress, rats showed a significant decrease in 5-HT1A mRNA levels in CA1 and the dentate gyrus compared to controls. No significant changes in 5-HT1A mRNA levels were detected in any of the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although 1 week of chronic stress is not sufficient to cause significant decreases in hippocampal 5-HT1A mRNA levels, a severe and prolonged acute stress is capable of down-regulating, at least transiently, 5-HT1A mRNA gene expression in hippocampus.
Authors: Mahmoud R Hadjighassem; Mark C Austin; Bernadeta Szewczyk; Mireille Daigle; Craig A Stockmeier; Paul R Albert Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2009-05-07 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: M Embree; V Michopoulos; J R Votaw; R J Voll; J Mun; J S Stehouwer; M M Goodman; M E Wilson; M M Sánchez Journal: Neuroscience Date: 2012-10-16 Impact factor: 3.590
Authors: Natania A Crane; Lisanne M Jenkins; Catherine Dion; Kortni K Meyers; Anne L Weldon; Laura B Gabriel; Sara J Walker; David T Hsu; Douglas C Noll; Heide Klumpp; K Luan Phan; Jon-Kar Zubieta; Scott A Langenecker Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2016-07-25 Impact factor: 6.505