Regulation of hypothalamic somatostatin, growth hormone-releasing hormone, and growth hormone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid by glucocorticoids. 1996

R M Señarís, and F Lago, and R Coya, and J Pineda, and C Diéguez
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Although it is well known that chronic treatment with glucocorticoids inhibits somatic growth, the mechanism of action of this inhibitory effect is not completely understood. It is likely that glucocorticoids act at various levels, including pituitary, hypothalamus, and peripheral organs modulating GH synthesis, secretion, and action. In this work, we evaluated the effect of dexamethasone on hypothalamic somatostatin and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels by in situ hybridization. We found a significant decrease of somatostatin mRNA content in the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus after 3, 8, and 15 days of treatment with dexamethasone. Furthermore, we observed a reduction in GHRH mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus after 8 and 15 days of treatment with this steroid. As it has been shown that GH feeds back to regulate somatostatin and GHRH expression at the hypothalamic level through high affinity GH receptors, we evaluated the possibility of a GH-mediated action in the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids on somatostatin and GHRH mRNA levels. To address this issue, we first studied the GH receptor mRNA content in both the periventricular and arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus after dexamethasone treatment. Secondly, the effect of dexamethasone on somatostatin and GHRH mRNA levels in hypophysectomized animals also was assessed. We found a significant decrease in GH receptor mRNA levels in the periventricular nucleus and in the arcuate nucleus after 1, 3, 8, and 15 days of glucocorticoid administration. Finally, in hypophysectomized rats, dexamethasone treatment for 15 days did not reduce somatostatin mRNA levels in the periventricular nucleus but significantly decreased GHRH mRNA content in the arcuate nucleus. In summary, our results suggest an inhibitory GH-mediated effect of dexamethasone on somatostatin mRNA levels in the periventricular nucleus and an inhibitory direct effect of dexamethasone on GHRH neurones in the arcuate nucleus.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007016 Hypophysectomy Surgical removal or destruction of the hypophysis, or pituitary gland. (Dorland, 28th ed) Hypophysectomies
D008297 Male Males
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
D011986 Receptors, Somatotropin Cell surface proteins that bind GROWTH HORMONE with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. Activation of growth hormone receptors regulates amino acid transport through cell membranes, RNA translation to protein, DNA transcription, and protein and amino acid catabolism in many cell types. Many of these effects are mediated indirectly through stimulation of the release of somatomedins. Growth Hormone Receptors,Receptors, Growth Hormone,Somatomammotropin Receptors,Somatotropin Receptors,Growth Hormone Receptor,Receptor, Growth Hormone,Receptors, Somatomammotropin,Somatomammotropin Receptor,Somatotropin Receptor,Hormone Receptor, Growth,Hormone Receptors, Growth
D003907 Dexamethasone An anti-inflammatory 9-fluoro-glucocorticoid. Hexadecadrol,Decaject,Decaject-L.A.,Decameth,Decaspray,Dexasone,Dexpak,Hexadrol,Maxidex,Methylfluorprednisolone,Millicorten,Oradexon,Decaject L.A.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001111 Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus A nucleus located in the middle hypothalamus in the most ventral part of the THIRD VENTRICLE near the entrance of the infundibular recess. Its small cells are in close contact with the EPENDYMA. Arcuate Nucleus,Infundibular Nucleus,Hypothalamus Arcuate Nucleus,Nucleus, Arcuate,Nucleus, Infundibular
D012333 RNA, Messenger RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm. Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D013004 Somatostatin A 14-amino acid peptide named for its ability to inhibit pituitary GROWTH HORMONE release, also called somatotropin release-inhibiting factor. It is expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, the gut, and other organs. SRIF can also inhibit the release of THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE; PROLACTIN; INSULIN; and GLUCAGON besides acting as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. In a number of species including humans, there is an additional form of somatostatin, SRIF-28 with a 14-amino acid extension at the N-terminal. Cyclic Somatostatin,Somatostatin-14,Somatotropin Release-Inhibiting Hormone,SRIH-14,Somatofalk,Somatostatin, Cyclic,Somatotropin Release-Inhibiting Factor,Stilamin,Somatostatin 14,Somatotropin Release Inhibiting Factor,Somatotropin Release Inhibiting Hormone
D013007 Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone A peptide of 44 amino acids in most species that stimulates the release and synthesis of GROWTH HORMONE. GHRF (or GRF) is synthesized by neurons in the ARCUATE NUCLEUS of the HYPOTHALAMUS. After being released into the pituitary portal circulation, GHRF stimulates GH release by the SOMATOTROPHS in the PITUITARY GLAND. Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor,Somatocrinin,Somatotropin-Releasing Factor 44,Somatotropin-Releasing Hormone,GHRH 1-44,GRF 1-44,Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor 44,Human Pancreatic Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor,Somatoliberin,hpGRF 44,Growth Hormone Releasing Factor,Growth Hormone Releasing Factor 44,Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone,Somatotropin Releasing Factor 44,Somatotropin Releasing Hormone

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