Biomaterial Database

Metrazole induces the sequential activation of c-fos, proenkephalin, and tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression in the rat adrenal gland: modulation by glucocorticoid and adrenocorticotropic hormone. 1993

Y S Zhu, and M Brodsky, and S O Franklin, and T Huang, and C E Inturrisi

Department of Pharmacology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021.

The immediate-early gene c-fos (a nuclear transcription factor) has been viewed as a nuclear "third messenger" or cellular "master switch." Both in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that the proenkephalin (Penk) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) genes are potential targets of this immediate-early gene. We investigated the relationships between the activation of the c-fos gene and the activation of the Penk and TH genes in both rat hippocampus and adrenal using a commonly used model, metrazole (MTZ)-induced convulsions. The administration of MTZ produced a sequential elevation in c-fos, preproenkephalin (PPenk), and TH mRNAs. One hour after MTZ administration, c-fos mRNA was increased about 10-fold in rat hippocampus and about 5-fold in rat adrenal, without a significant change in spinal cord levels. Immunocytochemistry revealed that Fos-like immunoreactivity was greatly increased in both hippocampus and adrenal medulla at 3 hr after MTZ administration. The levels of PPenk and TH mRNAs were significantly increased (5-fold and 3-fold, respectively) in the adrenal 6 hr after MTZ treatment. The effects of MTZ on c-fos, PPenk, and TH mRNAs were dose dependent in both adrenal and hippocampus. In the adrenal, both the basal levels and the MTZ induction of PPenk mRNA were significantly attenuated by hypophysectomy (hypox) and were partially reinstated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) replacement. In contrast, the basal levels of c-fos and TH mRNAs were not altered in hypox rat adrenal. ACTH treatment completely blocked the MTZ induction of adrenal c-fos mRNA and the subsequent induction of Fos-like immunoreactivity, whereas MTZ increased PPenk and TH mRNAs nearly 3-fold. Thus, in hypox rats MTZ can increase adrenal c-fos and TH mRNA levels without a corresponding increase in PPenk mRNA, whereas in ACTH-treated rats PPenk and TH mRNA levels in adrenal can be increased by MTZ without a preceding increase in c-fos mRNA. The MTZ induction of c-fos appears neither sufficient nor always necessary for the subsequent MTZ induction of Penk and TH gene expression. We conclude that c-fos, Penk, and TH genes can be differentially regulated in the adrenal of hypox rats or animals treated with ACTH, although they are co-localized in the same medullary cells.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007016	Hypophysectomy	Surgical removal or destruction of the hypophysis, or pituitary gland. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Hypophysectomies
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D008297	Male		Males
D010433	Pentylenetetrazole	A pharmaceutical agent that displays activity as a central nervous system and respiratory stimulant. It is considered a non-competitive GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID antagonist. Pentylenetetrazole has been used experimentally to study seizure phenomenon and to identify pharmaceuticals that may control seizure susceptibility.	Leptazole,Pentamethylenetetrazole,Pentetrazole,Cardiazol,Corasol,Corazol,Corazole,Korazol,Korazole,Metrazol,Metrazole,Pentazol,Pentylenetetrazol
D011498	Protein Precursors		Precursors, Protein
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
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
D005938	Glucocorticoids	A group of CORTICOSTEROIDS that affect carbohydrate metabolism (GLUCONEOGENESIS, liver glycogen deposition, elevation of BLOOD SUGAR), inhibit ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE secretion, and possess pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. They also play a role in fat and protein metabolism, maintenance of arterial blood pressure, alteration of the connective tissue response to injury, reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes, and functioning of the central nervous system.	Glucocorticoid,Glucocorticoid Effect,Glucorticoid Effects,Effect, Glucocorticoid,Effects, Glucorticoid
D006624	Hippocampus	A curved elevation of GRAY MATTER extending the entire length of the floor of the TEMPORAL HORN of the LATERAL VENTRICLE (see also TEMPORAL LOBE). The hippocampus proper, subiculum, and DENTATE GYRUS constitute the hippocampal formation. Sometimes authors include the ENTORHINAL CORTEX in the hippocampal formation.	Ammon Horn,Cornu Ammonis,Hippocampal Formation,Subiculum,Ammon's Horn,Hippocampus Proper,Ammons Horn,Formation, Hippocampal,Formations, Hippocampal,Hippocampal Formations,Hippocampus Propers,Horn, Ammon,Horn, Ammon's,Proper, Hippocampus,Propers, Hippocampus,Subiculums
D000311	Adrenal Glands	A pair of glands located at the cranial pole of each of the two KIDNEYS. Each adrenal gland is composed of two distinct endocrine tissues with separate embryonic origins, the ADRENAL CORTEX producing STEROIDS and the ADRENAL MEDULLA producing NEUROTRANSMITTERS.	Adrenal Gland,Gland, Adrenal,Glands, Adrenal