Abstract
In humans, glucocorticoid excess may cause neuropsychiatric symptoms, including psychosis and cognitive impairment, and glucocorticoid signaling hyperactivation may sensitize to substance of abuse. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether exposure to glucocorticoid excess triggers molecular changes in dopaminergic and opioidergic systems within relevant forebrain areas. We acutely exposed Sprague-Dawley rats to dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid analog, or vehicle and evaluated the mRNA expression of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors and enkephalin within the cortex, the striatum, and the midbrain.
Dexamethasone reduced mRNA expression of D1 receptor and enkephalin in the cortex. In the striatum, dexamethasone reduced the expression of D1 receptor mRNA, but not that of D2 receptor and enkephalin. No significant changes in D2 receptor mRNA expression were observed in the midbrain. Basal distribution of D1 and D2 receptor mRNA showed a clear-cut striatal/cortical gradient, while this distribution was less obvious for enkephalin mRNA. Dexamethasone increased the cortico-striatal separation in terms of D1 and D2 receptor mRNA expression.
These molecular changes may represent adaptive mechanisms to dexamethasone-induced potentiation of dopaminergic and opioidergic transmission, mostly in cortical areas.
Keywords: Cognition, cortex, cortisol, dexamethasone, gene expression, glucocorticoid, schizophrenia, striatum.
Current Molecular Pharmacology
Title:The Glucocorticoid Analog Dexamethasone Alters the Expression and the Distribution of Dopamine Receptors and Enkephalin within Cortico- Subcortical Regions
Volume: 6
Author(s): Felice Iasevoli, Luigi Aloj, Gianmarco Latte, Livia Avvisati, Federica Marmo, Carmine Tomasetti, Elisabetta F. Buonaguro, Chiara Simeoli, Rosario Pivonello, Annamaria Colao and Andrea de Bartolomeis
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cognition, cortex, cortisol, dexamethasone, gene expression, glucocorticoid, schizophrenia, striatum.
Abstract: In humans, glucocorticoid excess may cause neuropsychiatric symptoms, including psychosis and cognitive impairment, and glucocorticoid signaling hyperactivation may sensitize to substance of abuse. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether exposure to glucocorticoid excess triggers molecular changes in dopaminergic and opioidergic systems within relevant forebrain areas. We acutely exposed Sprague-Dawley rats to dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid analog, or vehicle and evaluated the mRNA expression of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors and enkephalin within the cortex, the striatum, and the midbrain.
Dexamethasone reduced mRNA expression of D1 receptor and enkephalin in the cortex. In the striatum, dexamethasone reduced the expression of D1 receptor mRNA, but not that of D2 receptor and enkephalin. No significant changes in D2 receptor mRNA expression were observed in the midbrain. Basal distribution of D1 and D2 receptor mRNA showed a clear-cut striatal/cortical gradient, while this distribution was less obvious for enkephalin mRNA. Dexamethasone increased the cortico-striatal separation in terms of D1 and D2 receptor mRNA expression.
These molecular changes may represent adaptive mechanisms to dexamethasone-induced potentiation of dopaminergic and opioidergic transmission, mostly in cortical areas.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Iasevoli Felice, Aloj Luigi, Latte Gianmarco, Avvisati Livia, Marmo Federica, Tomasetti Carmine, Buonaguro F. Elisabetta, Simeoli Chiara, Pivonello Rosario, Colao Annamaria and Bartolomeis de Andrea, The Glucocorticoid Analog Dexamethasone Alters the Expression and the Distribution of Dopamine Receptors and Enkephalin within Cortico- Subcortical Regions, Current Molecular Pharmacology 2013; 6 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187446720603140415215941
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187446720603140415215941 |
Print ISSN 1874-4672 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1874-4702 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
GABAergic Pharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Motor Disorders of the Central Nervous System
Current Pharmaceutical Design Adolescent HIV-1 Transgenic Rats: Evidence for Dopaminergic Alterations in Behavior and Neurochemistry Revealed by Methamphetamine Challenge
Current HIV Research Cholinergic Receptors as Target for Cancer Therapy in a Systems Medicine Perspective
Current Molecular Medicine Pharmacokinetics and Acute Toxicity of a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, Scriptaid, and its Neuroprotective Effects in Mice After Intracranial Hemorrhage
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Posttranslational Modifications as Versatile Regulators of Parkin Function
Current Medicinal Chemistry Editorial [Hot Topic: Frontiers of Metabolomics – Going from Bench to Bedside (Guest Editor: Anders Nordstrom)]
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Therapeutic Strategies in Autoimmune Diseases by Interfering with Leukocyte Endothelium Interaction
Current Pharmaceutical Design Review of Treatment for Cocaine Dependence
Current Drug Abuse Reviews ERRATUM
Current Neuropharmacology Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD): Review and Update for Clinical Neurologists
Current Alzheimer Research Synthesis and Evaluation of N-substituted (Z)-5-(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5- ylmethylene)-2-Thioxothiazolidin-4-one Derivatives and 5-Substituted- Thioxothiazolidindione Derivatives as Potent Anticonvulsant Agents
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Schiff Bases of Isatin: Inhibitory Potential Towards Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Medical Management of Parkinsons Disease: Focus on Neuroprotection
Current Neuropharmacology Cognitive Impairment in Depression
Current Psychiatry Reviews Serum β-Amyloid Peptide Levels Spike in the Early Stage of Alzheimer- Like Plaque Pathology in an APP/PS1 Double Transgenic Mouse Model
Current Alzheimer Research Increased Paternal Age and Child Health and Development
Current Pediatric Reviews Understanding Effects of Psychological Stress on Physiology and Disease Through Human Stressome - An Integral Algorithm
Current Bioinformatics Molecular Imaging of Matrix Metalloproteinases In Vivo Using Small Molecule Inhibitors for SPECT and PET
Current Medicinal Chemistry Calpains as a Target for Therapy of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Putative Role of Lithium
Current Drug Metabolism Nitric Oxide Mimetic Molecules as Therapeutic Agents in Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research