Biomaterial Database

Effect of acute stress on the expression of hypothalamic messenger ribonucleic acids encoding the endogenous opioid precursors preproenkephalin A and proopiomelanocortin. 1994

P J Larsen, and S E Mau

Department of Anatomy, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

In addition to the release of adenohypophysial hormones adrenocorticotropin and beta-endorphin, most types of acute stress induce rapid release of prolactin (PRL) from the anterior pituitary lobe. Endogenous opioid peptides are believed to participate in the stress-induced PRL secretion via an action within the central nervous system. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of acute stress on anterior pituitary PRL secretion and the hypothalamic expression of messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) encoding precursors of the endogenous opioids Met-enkephalin and beta-endorphin. Adult male rats were subjected to 1 h of restraint and the stress-induced rise in plasma PRL was measured both during and after termination of the stress paradigm. Using quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry, it was observed that levels of proenkephalin A mRNA increased significantly within the medial parvocellular subset of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, and within the arcuate nucleus levels of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA were slightly, but significantly, increased. The employed stress paradigm also induced an elevation of anterior pituitary levels of PRL and POMC mRNAs. The present data suggest that restraint stress activates gene expression of endogenous opioid systems in the hypothalamus and that the employed stress paradigm is of sufficient magnitude to stimulate both mRNA expression and release of PRL in the anterior pituitary lobe.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D010286	Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus	Nucleus in the anterior part of the HYPOTHALAMUS.	Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus,Paraventricular Nucleus,Hypothalamic Nucleus, Paraventricular,Nucleus, Hypothalamic Paraventricular,Nucleus, Paraventricular,Nucleus, Paraventricular Hypothalamic,Paraventricular Nucleus, Hypothalamic
D010903	Pituitary Gland, Anterior	The anterior glandular lobe of the pituitary gland, also known as the adenohypophysis. It secretes the ADENOHYPOPHYSEAL HORMONES that regulate vital functions such as GROWTH; METABOLISM; and REPRODUCTION.	Adenohypophysis,Anterior Lobe of Pituitary,Anterior Pituitary Gland,Lobus Anterior,Pars Distalis of Pituitary,Adenohypophyses,Anterior Pituitary Glands,Anterior, Lobus,Anteriors, Lobus,Lobus Anteriors,Pituitary Anterior Lobe,Pituitary Glands, Anterior,Pituitary Pars Distalis
D011333	Pro-Opiomelanocortin	A 30-kDa protein synthesized primarily in the ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND and the HYPOTHALAMUS. It is also found in the skin and other peripheral tissues. Depending on species and tissues, POMC is cleaved by PROHORMONE CONVERTASES yielding various active peptides including ACTH; BETA-LIPOTROPIN; ENDORPHINS; MELANOCYTE-STIMULATING HORMONES; and others (GAMMA-LPH; CORTICOTROPIN-LIKE INTERMEDIATE LOBE PEPTIDE; N-terminal peptide of POMC or NPP).	POMC,Pro-Opiocortin,ACTH-Endorphin Precursor,ACTH-beta-Lipotropin Precursor,Corticotropin-beta-Lipotropin Precursor,Endorphin-ACTH Precursor,Opiocortin,Pre-POMC,Pre-pro-opiocortin,Preproopiomelanocortin,Pro-ACTH-Endorphin,Pro-Opio-Melanocortin,Proopiocortin,Proopiomelanocortin,ACTH Endorphin Precursor,ACTH beta Lipotropin Precursor,Corticotropin beta Lipotropin Precursor,Endorphin ACTH Precursor,Pre POMC,Pre pro opiocortin,Pro ACTH Endorphin,Pro Opio Melanocortin,Pro Opiocortin,Pro Opiomelanocortin
D011388	Prolactin	A lactogenic hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). It is a polypeptide of approximately 23 kD. Besides its major action on lactation, in some species prolactin exerts effects on reproduction, maternal behavior, fat metabolism, immunomodulation and osmoregulation. Prolactin receptors are present in the mammary gland, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, testis, and prostate.	Lactogenic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropin,PRL (Prolactin),Hormone, Pituitary Lactogenic,Hormone, Pituitary Mammotropic,Pituitary Lactogenic Hormone,Pituitary Mammotropic Hormone
D011498	Protein Precursors		Precursors, Protein
D012149	Restraint, Physical	Use of a device for the purpose of controlling movement of all or part of the body. Splinting and casting are FRACTURE FIXATION.	Immobilization, Physical,Physical Restraint,Physical Immobilization,Physical Restraints,Restraints, Physical
D004745	Enkephalins	One of the three major families of endogenous opioid peptides. The enkephalins are pentapeptides that are widespread in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in the adrenal medulla.	Enkephalin