The MCP-4/MCP-1 ratio in plasma is a candidate circadian biomarker for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is psychiatric disease, which can occur following exposure to traumatic events. PTSD may be acute or chronic, and can have a waxing and waning course of symptoms. It has been hypothesized that proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or plasma might be mediators of the psychophysiological mechanisms relating a history of trauma exposure to changes in behavior and mental health disorders, and medical morbidity. Here we test the cytokine/chemokine hypothesis for PTSD by examining levels of 17 classical cytokines and chemokines in CSF, sampled at 0900 hours, and in plasma sampled hourly for 24 h. The PTSD and healthy control patients are from the NIMH Chronic PTSD and healthy control cohort, initially described by Bonne et al. (2011), in which the PTSD patients have relatively low comorbidity for major depressive disorder (MDD), drug or alcohol use. We find that in plasma, but not CSF, the bivariate MCP4 (CCL13)/ MCP1(CCL2) ratio is ca. twofold elevated in PTSD patients compared with healthy controls. The MCP-4/MCP-1 ratio is invariant over circadian time, and is independent of gender, body mass index or the age at which the trauma was suffered. By contrast, MIP-1ß is a candidate biomarker for PTSD only in females, whereas TARC is a candidate biomarker for PTSD only in males. It remains to be discovered whether these disease-specific differences in circadian expression for these specific immune signaling molecules are biomarkers, surrogates, or drivers for PTSD, or whether any of these analytes could contribute to therapy.

Alpha-adrenergic stimulation by clonidine increases plasma concentrations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in rats.

Peripheral administration of the alpha-adrenergic agonist clonidine (0.5 mg/kg, sc) evoked a 2- to 3-fold rise (0.22 +/- 0.03 to 0.59 +/- 0.05 ng/ml) in plasma levels of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-END-LI) 15-30 min later in intact, but not hypophysectomized, rats. This rise in plasma beta-END-LI, which was dose dependent up to 0.5 mg/kg clonidine, appeared to be mediated by activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors, since pretreatment with the alpha-adrenergic antagonists yohimbine (1 mg/kg, ip), phentolamine (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg, kp), or phenoxybenzamine (2 and 10 mg/kg, ip) partially or fully blocked clonidine's effect. By contrast, the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol (1 and 5 mg/kg, ip) did not modify the clonidine-induced increased in plasma beta-END-LI. Given alone, the adrenergic blocking drugs were generally without effect on plasma levels of beta-END-LI. Clonidine appeared to be acting on the brain (or pituitary), since the intracerebroventricular injection of phenoxybenzamine (20 microgram) blocked the drug-induced rise in plasma beta-END-LI. These data suggest an alpha-adrenergic mechanism influences the release of pituitary beta-END in the rat.

Evidence for independent secretion of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity from rat pars distalis in vivo.

The distinctive chromatographic patterns of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta END-LI) released from rat pars distalis (PD) or pars intermedia in vitro as well as the selective inhibitory effects of dexamethasone on PD were used to determine which lobe secretes beta END-LI into plasma after clonidine administration in vivo. Gel chromatography (Sephadex G-50) indicates that cultured PD cells released two major immunoreactive species which coelute with beta-lipotropin (beta LPH) or beta END standards. Conversely, virtually all of the beta END-LI secreted by neurointermediate lobe [pars intermedia plus pars nervosa (NIL)] cells in vitro resembled beta END in size, while none was detected which cochromatographed with beta LPH. Incubation of PD cells with clonidine (10(-6) M) evoked a 2-fold increase in beta END-LI release, while the drug had no effect on beta END-LI released from cultured NIL cells. Dexamethasone (10(-7) M) inhibited the clinidine-induced release of beta END-LI from PD cells, whereas it did not influence the stimulated release of beta END-LI from NIL by isoproterenol (10(-6) M). In vivo administration of clonidine (0.5 mg/kg, ip, for 15 min) increased total plasma beta END-LI from 0.75 +/- 0.16 to 1.35 +/- 0.18 ng/ml; 85% of this rise corresponded to beta LPH as determined by gel chromatography. Prior administration of dexamethasone (60 micrograms/kg, ip, for 4 h) completely prevented the clonidine-induced release of beta END-LI in vivo. These results demonstrate that clonidine probably acts selectively on the PD in vivo to release pituitary beta END-LI, and further, that PD can release beta END-LI independently of the pars intermedia.

Evidence that a serotonergic mechanism stimulates the secretion of pituitary beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in the rat.

A pharmacological approach was used to investigate serotonergic control of the secretion of pituitary beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-END-LI) in the rat. The administration of 75 or 200 mg/kg L-tryptophan (ip, over 30 min) increased brain serotonin by 17% and 19%, respectively, and increased circulating beta-END-LI from 0.30 +/- .06 to 0.56 +/- 0.7 and 0.64 +/- 0.8 ng/ml, respectively. D,L,5-Hydroxytryptophan (30 mg/kg, ip, over 30 min) produced a 4.9-fold increase in brain serotonin content and a 3.4-fold rise in plasma beta-END-LI. The administration of a serotonin reuptake blocker, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, ip, over 15 min), elevated basal levels of plasma beta-END-LI from a control value of 0.38 +/- 0.02 to 1.21 +/- 0.32 ng/ml. Exposure to ether increased circulating beta-END-LI to 1.08 +/- 0.18 ng/ml, and fluoxetine treatment further increased this rise to 1.69 +/- 0.09 ng/ml (P less than 0.05). Quipazine, a serotonin receptor agonist, evoked a dose-related (2.5-5.0 mg/kg, ip) increase in circulating beta-END-LI levels by 15-45 min post injection. By contrast, intraventricular injection of the neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (75 microgram free base, for 10 days) caused a 77% depletion of brain serotonin and attenuated the rise in beta-END-LI levels in response to immobilization (3.28 +/- 0.20 vs. 1.83 +/- 0.25 ng/ml). A higher dose of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (200 microgram free base, for 10 days) significantly decreased resting levels of beta-END-LI from 0.65 +/- 0.14 to 0.36 +/- 0.08 ng/ml. We conclude that brain serotonin neurons exert a stimulatory influence over the basal secretion of pituitary beta-END-LI and mediate, in part, the stress-induced release of this hormone.

Evidence for depressed catecholamine and enhanced serotonin metabolism in aging male rats: posssible relation to gondotropin secretion.

The steady state concentration of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5HT) was determined and turnover estimated in several brain regions of young (3-4 months) and old (21 months) male Wistar rats. An estimate of DA and NE turnover was obtained by determining their depletion rates after treatment with alpha-methylpara-tyrosine, a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor. Serotonin turnover was estimated by determining its rate of increase after monoamine oxidase inhibition with pargyline. In old males, medial basal hypothalamic (MBH) DA concentration and depletion rate were significantly lower than in young males. DA concentration of the remaining hypothalamus also was lower in old than in young males, but depletion rates were not different. DA concentration and depletion rate in the olfactory tubercle were the same in both age groups. The steady state concentration of NE in the MBH and remaining hypothalamus, and the hypothalamic NE depletion rate, were significantly lower in old than in young animals. In both brain and hypothalamus, steady state concentrations of 5HT were the same in young and old rats, but by 30 min after monoamine oxidase inhibition with pargyline, hypothalamic, but not brain, 5HT increased more in old than in young males. This may indicate a greater turnover of 5HT in the hypothalamus of old than of young males. In non-drug treated (control) old male rats, serum LH and FSH were lower, serum prolactin was higher and serum TSH was the same in young male rats. These data suggest that a decrease in catecholamine and an increase in serotonin metabolism occur in the hypothalamus of old male rats. These changes may be related to the decrease in release of gonadotropins and increase in release of prolactin observed in these old male rats.

Evidence that a benzodiazepine receptor mechanism regulates the secretion of pituitary beta-endorphin in rats.

The effects of agents representing three classes of benzodiazepine receptor-acting drugs on circulating levels of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-END-LI) were examined in male rats. The active benzodiazepine receptor antagonists, ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCE, 30 mg/kg), methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (3 mg/kg), and 2-phenylpyrazolo [4,3-c]quinolin-3(5H)-one (CGS-8216, 3 mg/kg), all evoked 3- to 4-fold increases in plasma levels of beta-END-LI as compared to control values. The beta-CCE-induced rise in circulating beta-END-LI was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with the agonist diazepam (2.5 mg/kg) and the antagonist ethyl-8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo-[1,5-alpha] [1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate (Ro 15-1788, 10 mg/kg) but was unaltered by morphine (1 and 5 mg/kg). Ro 15-1788 also significantly attenuated the methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate- and CGS-8216-induced release of pituitary beta-END-LI in vivo. Morphine (5 mg/kg) and diazepam (5 mg/kg) together, but neither alone, significantly reduced the rise in plasma beta-END-LI due to physical immobilization or foot shock. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (100 micrograms), an inhibitor of pituitary anterior lobe (AL) beta-END-LI secretion, completely prevented the plasma beta-END-LI increase due to beta-CCE. Chromatographic analysis of plasma beta-END-LI revealed that most of the beta-END-LI secreted in response to beta-CCE and CGS-8216 resembles beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), a marker for beta-END-LI release from the AL, in molecular size. Results of in vitro studies indicate that the effects of the anxiogenic agents, beta-CCE and CGS-8216, on AL beta-END-LI release in vivo were not mediated by direct actions of these agents on the pituitary gland. Together, these findings suggest that an interaction exists between a benzodiazepine receptor mechanism(s) and regulation of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor(s) which in turn controls beta-END-LI secretion from the AL of the rat pituitary gland.

Dopaminergic inhibition of pituitary beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity secretion in the rat.

A pharmacologic approach was used to examine the possible role of dopamine neurons in the regulation of pituitary beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-END-LI) secretion in the rat. Blockade of dopamine receptors by haloperidol or pimozide treatment evoked dose- and time-related increases in plasma levels of beta-END-LI. Physical immobilization increased circulating beta-END-LI six-fold and pretreatment with dopamine receptor agonists (bromocriptine or pergolide) significantly attenuated this rise without affecting plasma beta-END-LI levels in non-stressed animals. Dopaminergic drugs and immobilization produced similar effects on circulating PRL as on beta-END-LI. However, the magnitude of change in levels of PRL was generally greater than the change in beta-END-LI. The present findings suggest that dopaminergic neurons inhibit the release of pituitary beta-END-LI as well as PRL in the rat.

Equine Cushing's disease: differential regulation of beta-endorphin processing in tumors of the intermediate pituitary.

Equine Cushing's disease is caused by an adenomatous hyperplasia of the intermediate pituitary which secretes high levels of beta-endorphin, ACTH, and other peptide derivatives of POMC. In the present study we found that plasma and cerebrospinal fluid immunoreactive beta-endorphin (i beta-endorphin) levels were 60- and 120-fold higher than control values in horses with Cushing's disease. There were no significant differences in intermediate lobe i beta-endorphin concentrations, although anterior lobe i beta-endorphin was significantly reduced in Cushing's horses, presumably because high levels of circulating glucocorticoids inhibit POMC biosynthesis in corticotrophs. Although the i beta-endorphin concentration of the tumors was not different from that in normal tissue, the posttranslational processing of beta-endorphin in the two tissues differed significantly. In controls, beta-endorphin-(1-31) was extensively processed to N-acetyl-beta-endorphin-(1-31), -(1-27), and -(1-26) and des-acetyl beta-endorphin-(1-27). N-Acetyl-beta-endorphin-(1-27) was the predominant form, constituting 57% of the total i beta-endorphin, whereas beta-endorphin-(1-31) was quantitatively minor (less than 7% of the total immunoreactivity. In adenomatous pituitaries, the processing of beta-endorphin was restricted, significantly increasing the proportions of beta-endorphin-(1-31) and N-acetyl-beta-endorphin-(1-31) and lowering the amounts of N-acetyl-beta-endorphin-(1-27) and -(1-26). These changes in peptide processing were associated with markedly reduced levels of dopamine, suggesting that the dopaminergic neurons that normally control intermediate lobe secretion no longer innervate the hyperplastic tissue. These findings are consistent with evidence that the dopaminergic innervation of the intermediate pituitary regulates the posttranslational processing and release of beta-endorphin.

Coordinate regulation of peptide acetyltransferase activity and proopiomelanocortin gene expression in the intermediate lobe of the rat pituitary.

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is posttranslationally processed in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary to both N-terminally acetylated and nonacetylated forms of alpha MSH and beta-endorphin (beta END). N-Acetylation substantially modifies the physiological responses produced by both peptides, suggesting that the activity of the peptide acetyltransferase, which posttranslationally acetylates beta END and des-acetyl-alpha MSH, may play an important role in defining the biological activity of the secretory products of the intermediate pituitary lobe. The present results demonstrate that peptide acetyltransferase activity is induced by treating rats chronically with the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol. Haloperidol administration produced parallel and essentially equivalent increases in acetyltransferase activity, POMC mRNA levels, and the content and secretion of POMC-derived peptides in the neurointermediate pituitary. Time-course and dose-response studies further demonstrated that acetyltransferase activity covaried with POMC mRNA and peptide levels. Chronic treatment with the dopamine receptor agonist bromocriptine had the opposite effects; it lowered acetyltransferase activity, POMC mRNA levels, and alpha MSH and beta END immunoreactivities. Subcellular fractionation showed that acetyltransferase activity was localized in three subcellular compartments corresponding in density to secretory vesicles, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, and cytosol. Haloperidol treatment significantly increased the specific activity of the secretory vesicle-associated acetyltransferase without affecting the specific activity of the enzymes present in the endoplasmic reticulum or cytosol. Together, these data indicate that peptide acetyltransferase activity and POMC biosynthesis are coregulated.

Regulated endocrine-specific protein-18: a short-lived novel glucocorticoid-regulated endocrine protein.

Regulated endocrine-specific protein-18 (RESP18) is an 18-kilodalton endocrine-specific transcript whose expression is regulated by a number of different physiological and pharmacological stimuli in different tissues. RESP18 messenger RNA was identified in all cell types in the anterior pituitary, at levels that varied 2-fold from the lowest (corticotropes and thyrotropes) to the highest (gonadotropes, somatotropes, and mammotropes); the melanotropes of the intermediate pituitary have levels of RESP18 messenger RNA comparable to the highest levels in cells in the anterior pituitary. Mouse RESP18 was cloned and used as the basis for biosynthetic studies on RESP18 in AtT-20 cells, which express RESP18 endogenously; mouse RESP18 was highly homologous to rat RESP18. Pulse-chase biosynthetic labeling studies showed that AtT-20 cells expressed much less RESP18 than the endogenous prohormone, POMC, but that glucocorticoid treatment lowered POMC and raised RESP18 biosynthetic rates so that they were nearly equimolar. Surprisingly, RESP18 was not processed to smaller peptides to any significant extent, nor was RESP18 or any smaller peptide secreted. Newly synthesized RESP18 normally disappeared from AtT-20 cell extracts with a half-life of less than 15 min; the intracellular half-life of RESP18 was increased strikingly after glucocorticoid treatment of the cells. Upon subcellular fractionation, RESP18 was found to be entirely particulate and to cofractionate with markers for the endoplasmic reticulum, rather than with markers for secretory granules, such as POMC and prohormone-processing enzymes. Therefore, RESP18 is a major glucocorticoid-responsive protein in the secretory pathway of corticotropes, but its function may be entirely within the neuroendocrine cell.

A diurnal rhythm in proopiomelanocortin messenger ribonucleic acid that varies concomitantly with the content and secretion of beta-endorphin in the intermediate lobe of the rat pituitary.

The present study investigated whether diurnal variations in the secretion of alpha MSH and beta-endorphin from the intermediate lobe (IL) of the pituitary are associated with parallel changes in the synthesis of mRNA specifically encoding proopiomelanocortin (POMC). The results demonstrate that concomitant diurnal variations occur in both plasma and IL concentrations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin and alpha MSH. Plasma and IL peptide levels were relatively constant during daylight hours (0600-1800 h), but increased after the onset of darkness and reached maximal concentrations at 0200 h. To examine the possibility that this diurnal rhythm in the content and secretion of POMC-derived peptides resulted from diurnal changes in the biosynthesis of POMC, the concentration and rate of synthesis of POMC mRNA were examined. POMC mRNA levels were elevated during the dark period, reaching a maximum level at 0200 h that was 2-fold higher than that occurring during the light period. POMC mRNA synthesis, determined by measuring the number of RNA polymerase II complexes transcribing the POMC gene in isolated cell nuclei, also varied diurnally, with maximum transcription rates occurring at 1800 h, thus preceding maximal increases in POMC mRNA content and POMC peptide secretion by 8 h. Together, these data indicate that diurnal variations in the content and secretion of POMC-derived peptides are associated with parallel changes in POMC mRNA concentrations and are preceded by similar changes in POMC gene transcription.

Exercise-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: marked differences in the sensitivity to glucocorticoid suppression.

Treadmill exercise activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and evokes metabolic responses proportional to exercise intensity and duration. To determine whether glucocorticoid administration would alter humoral and metabolic regulation during exercise, we administered 4 mg dexamethasone (DEX) or placebo to 11 normal, moderately trained men (19-42 yr old) in a double blinded random fashion 4 h before high intensity intermittent treadmill running. Plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol, arginine vasopressin (AVP), lactate, and glucose were measured before, during, and after exercise. A wide range of ACTH responses were seen in the DEX-treated group and arbitrarily defined as two subsets of individuals according to their responses to dexamethasone: DEX nonsuppressors and DEX suppressors. Exercise-induced increases in heart rate and circulating concentrations of cortisol, AVP, lactate, and glucose were all significantly greater (P < 0.05) in nonsuppressors (n = 4) compared to suppressors (n = 7) after both placebo and DEX administration. Interestingly, heart rate, AVP, and lactate responses were unaltered by DEX alone in both groups. In summary, this study demonstrates that normal individuals exhibit differential neuroendocrine and metabolic responses to exercise and pituitary/adrenal suppression after pretreatment with DEX. These findings reflect marked individual differences in the stress response to exercise that may derive from or lead to differential glucocorticoid negative feedback sensitivity in humans.

Dexamethasone alters plasma levels of beta-endorphin and postoperative pain.

Secretion of pituitary immunoreactive beta-endorphin is hypothesized to modulate the perception of pain. The present study examined this question by evaluating the effects of intravenous placebo or dexamethasone (0.1, 0.32, or 1.0 mg) on suppression of immunoreactive beta-endorphin secretion and development of postoperative pain after the surgical removal of impacted third molars in 48 patients. Compared with placebo, all doses of dexamethasone suppressed the postoperative increase in circulating levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin. Patients administered 0.1 mg dexamethasone reported greater levels of pain, compared with those given placebo, from 60 through 120 minutes after surgery. Postoperative pain for the 0.32 and 1.0 mg doses did not differ from that for the placebo group. The increased pain after suppression of beta-endorphin release by the low dose of dexamethasone suggests that pituitary secretion of immunoreactive beta-endorphin alleviates postoperative pain under these conditions.

Naloxone, fentanyl, and diazepam modify plasma beta-endorphin levels during surgery.

Forty-eight patients received either naloxone (10 mg), fentanyl (0.1 mg), diazepam (0.3 mg/kg), or saline solution placebo, and then underwent surgical removal of impacted third molars under local anesthesia. Placebo resulted in significantly elevated levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (i beta-END), norepinephrine, and anxiety during surgery. Patients receiving naloxone had significantly greater intraoperative i beta-END and pain as compared with those receiving placebo. The naloxone effect on intraoperative pain was a result of a difference in perceived unpleasantness. Both the fentanyl and diazepam groups had significantly lower intraoperative i beta-END and anxiety levels as compared with the placebo group. Norepinephrine levels increased significantly in response to surgical stress in all groups except the diazepam group. Postoperative circulating levels of i beta-END and norepinephrine and pain increased significantly from the 1 to 3-hour postoperative period for all groups, with the exception of stable norepinephrine levels observed in patients receiving diazepam. Results indicate that opiate antagonists stimulate and agonists suppress the release of i beta-END, possibly by affecting the patient's perceived level of pain and anxiety. In addition, the association of intraoperative hyperalgesia with naloxone predosing suggests that endogenous opioid peptides inhibit the perception of intraoperative pain even in the presence of concurrent local anesthesia.

Induction of peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase activity by nerve growth factor in PC12 cells.

Pheochromocytoma PC12 cells grown in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF) undergo marked neuronal differentiation. During this process gene expression is altered, resulting in the activation of genes specific for neuronal properties, including the gene encoding neuropeptide Y (NPY). Here we sought to determine whether NGF also induces the activity of peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) (EC1.4.17.3). PHM catalyzes the rate limiting step in the formation of alpha-amidated NPY from its glycine extended precursor, a posttranslational modification essential for biologic activity. PC12 cells were grown with or without NGF and assayed for PHM activity under optimal conditions. Whole cell extracts, medium and soluble and membrane bound fractions were assayed; total cellular PHM activity was found to be primarily membrane bound (fivefold greater than in soluble) and very little activity was released into the medium. Compared to control cells, PHM activity was increased significantly by NGF by 24 h but not before 4 h exposure. Through kinetic analysis, it was determined that the NGF-induction of PHM was a result of an increase in Vmax with no change in Km. It was found that the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DEX), decreased basal PHM activity and prevented its induction by NGF. Cotreatment with DEX for up to 7 d, however, did not dramatically alter the pronounced changes in cell morphology that occurred in response to NGF. These findings indicate that NGF and glucocorticoids exert reciprocal control over the activity of PHM in PC12 cells. As such, the process of differentiation in PC12 cells is a model for studying the mechanisms that coordinate the expression and activity of peptide processing enzymes with the regulation of their substrates and products.

Localization of putative calcium-responsive regions in the rat BDNF gene.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has potent trophic and protective actions on CNS neurons, including mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, ventral forebrain cholinergic neurons and spinal motor neurons. To evaluate the effects of calcium and other second messengers on BDNF gene transcription, C6 glioma cells were treated for 4 h with the calcium ionophore A23187, forskolin + isobutyl-methyl-xanthine (IBMX), or the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that A23187 treatment increased BDNF transcripts containing the protein coding exon by 4.4-6.4-fold. Alternate BDNF transcripts were elevated to varying degrees after treatment with this ionophore and a subset of these transcripts was elevated following forskolin + IBMX treatment. When co-incubated with the RNA polymerase inhibitor, actinomycin D, A23187-induced increases were reduced or abolished, suggesting that calcium-mediated regulation of BDNF mRNA expression occurs at transcriptional as well as post-transcriptional levels. Transient transfection experiments employing reporter constructs containing serial 5' deletions of alternate BDNF promoters suggested that A23187-induced elevations in BDNF exon 1b, 1d and 1e containing transcripts are mediated by putative calcium-responsive regions flanking all three of these exons.

Alternate 5' exons in the rat brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene: differential patterns of expression across brain regions.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) enhances the survival of dopaminergic neurons and protects them from neurotoxins in vitro. This trophic factor might thus be of therapeutic value for the treatment of Parkinsonian syndromes. The rat BDNF gene consists of several upstream noncoding exons that are alternatively spliced to a common coding exon. To investigate BDNF 5' exons expressed in the adult rat brain, we subjected RNA from cerebellum to 5'-RACE analysis and compared the resulting clones to previously reported 5' exon sequences from rat brain and hippocampus. In addition to known 5' exons, we isolated a BDNF transcript with a novel 5' sequence representing yet another alternate upstream exon in this gene. Quantitative PCR analysis of BDNF mRNAs containing each of the five upstream exons indicated that each of the alternate transcripts is most abundant in the hippocampus, intermediate in the substantia nigra and cerebellum and least abundant in the striatum. However, the magnitude of these differences in expression varied considerably suggesting that BDNF gene transcription in the mature brain is regulated by alternate promoters that are differentially active across regions.

Marked differences in functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis between groups of men.

To compare profiles of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) responsiveness, healthy, moderately trained men (n = 15) were classified as high (n = 7) or low responders (n = 8) on the basis of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responses to strenuous treadmill exercise 4 h after 4 mg of dexamethasone (Dex). These groups were then evaluated to compare 1) HPA and growth hormone responses to exercise at 90% maximal oxygen uptake 4 h after placebo, Dex (4 mg), and hydrocortisone (100 mg); 2) pituitary-adrenal responses to infusion of arginine vasopressin (AVP); 3) plasma cortisol after a Dex suppression test (1 mg); and 4) behavioral characteristics. In comparison to low responders, high responders exhibited significantly 1) higher plasma ACTH responses to exercise after placebo and Dex; 2) higher plasma AVP secretion with exercise after placebo and marked Dex- and hydrocortisone-induced enhancement of exercise-induced AVP secretion; 3) lower Dex-induced increases in basal and stimulated growth hormone secretion; 4) higher plasma ACTH responses to infusion of AVP; and 5) a trend (P = 0.09) for higher trait anxiety ratings. Similar suppression of plasma cortisol was noted after 1 mg Dex. We conclude that subgroups of healthy male volunteers exhibit unique profiles of HPA responsiveness. We also believe that glucocorticoid pretreatment combined with strenuous exercise allows functional HPA responsiveness to be distinguished between subgroups of healthy controls and may be useful in the determination of susceptibility to disorders characterized by hyper- and hypo-HPA activation.

Regional heterogeneity in the ratio of alpha-MSH: beta-endorphin in rat brain.

The molar ratio of alpha-MSH: beta-endorphin varies markedly among discrete microdissected regions of rat brain ranging from 0.57 in the median eminence to 2.74 in the lateral septum. This finding demonstrates that alpha-MSH and beta-endorphin (beta-END) are not uniformly distributed in a 1:1 molar ratio in rat brain as one might predict based on the consideration that the two peptides are synthesized in equimolar amounts as part of a common precursor molecule, pro-opiomelanocortin. The data indicate instead that the concentrations of alpha-MSH and beta-END, the two predominant peptides expressed by opiomelantropinergic neurons, are independently regulated in rat brain. The heterogeneity of alpha-MSH: beta-END ratios suggests that the regulation of alpha-MSH and beta-END is regionally specific and may impart functional selectivity to the multisecretory opiomelanotropinergic neuronal system.

The distribution of corticotropin releasing factor-like immunoreactive neurons in rat brain.

Using the indirect immunofluorescent technique, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)-like immunoreactive nerve fibers and cell bodies were observed to be widely distributed in rat brain. A detailed stereotaxic atlas of CRF-like immunoreactive neurons was prepared. Large numbers of CRF-containing perikarya were observed in the nucleus paraventricularis, with scattered cells in the following nuclei: accumbens, interstitialis stria terminalis, preopticus medialis, supraopticus, periventricularis hypothalami, amygdaloideus centralis, dorsomedialis, substantia grisea centralis, parabrachialis dorsalis and ventralis, tegmenti dorsalis lateralis, vestibularis medialis, tractus solitarius and reticularis lateralis. The most intense staining of CRF-containing fibers was observed in the external lamina of the median eminence. Moderate numbers of CRF-like fibers were observed in the following nuclei: lateralis and medialis septi, tractus diagonalis, interstitialis stria terminalis, preopticus medialis, supraopticus, periventricularis thalami and hypothalami, paraventricularis, anterior ventralis and medialis thalami, rhomboideus, amygdaloideus centralis, habenulae lateralis, dorsomedialis, ventromedialis, substantia grisea centralis, cuneiformis, parabrachialis dorsalis and ventralis, tegmenti dorsalis lateralis, cerebellum, vestibularis medialis, reticularis lateralis, substantia gelatinosa trigemini and lamina I and II of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The present findings suggest that a CRF-like peptide may be involved in a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator role, as well as a hypophysiotropic role.