Modifications of Glucocorticoid Receptors MRNA Expression in the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Axis in Response to Early-life Stress in Female Japanese Quail

Overview

Journal J Neuroendocrinol

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2014 Oct 11

PMID 25303060

Citations 24

Authors

C Zimmer

K A Spencer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Stress exposure during early-life development can programme individual brain and physiology. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the primary targets of this programming, which is generally associated with a hyperactive HPA axis, indicative of a reduced negative-feedback. This reduced feedback efficiency usually results from a reduced level of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and/or the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) within the HPA axis. However, a few studies have shown that early-life stress exposure results in an attenuated physiological stress response, suggesting an enhance feedback efficiency. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether early-life stress had long-term consequences on GR and MR levels in quail and whether the effects on the physiological response to acute stress observed in prenatally stressed individuals were underpinned by changes in GR and/or MR levels in one or more HPA axis components. We determined GR and MR mRNA expression in the hippocampus, hypothalamus and pituitary gland in quail exposed to elevated corticosterone during prenatal development, postnatal development, or both, and in control individuals exposed to none of the stressors. We showed that prenatal stress increased the GR:MR ratio in the hippocampus, GR and MR expression in the hypothalamus and GR expression in the pituitary gland. Postnatal stress resulted in a reduced MR expression in the hippocampus. Both early-life treatments permanently affected the expression of both receptor types in HPA axis regions. The effects of prenatal stress are in accordance with a more efficient negative-feedback within the HPA axis and thus can explain the attenuated stress response observed in these birds. Therefore, these changes in receptor density or number as a consequence of early-life stress exposure might be the mechanism that allows an adaptive response to later-life stressful conditions.

Citing Articles

Disturbance history alters the development of the HPA axis in altricial nestling birds.

Barati A, Crino O, McDonald P, Buchanan K PeerJ. 2025; 13:e18777.

PMID: 39989740 PMC: 11847492. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.18777.

Prenatal Corticosterone Impacts Nestling Condition and Immunity in Eastern Bluebirds.

Miller T, Navara K J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol. 2025; 343(3):427-437.

PMID: 39831630 PMC: 11874072. DOI: 10.1002/jez.2898.

Sublethal effects of early-life exposure to common and emerging contaminants in birds.

Grace J, Duran E, Ann Ottinger M, Maness T Curr Res Toxicol. 2024; 7:100190.

PMID: 39220619 PMC: 11365322. DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2024.100190.

Modelling the role of glucocorticoid receptor as mediator of endocrine responses to environmental challenge.

Jimeno B, Rubalcaba J Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2024; 379(1898):20220501.

PMID: 38310935 PMC: 10838647. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0501.

HPA flexibility and : promising physiological targets for conservation.

Zimmer C, Jimeno B, Martin L Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2024; 379(1898):20220512.

PMID: 38310934 PMC: 10838639. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0512.

References

Reichardt H, Umland T, Bauer A, Kretz O, Schutz G . Mice with an increased glucocorticoid receptor gene dosage show enhanced resistance to stress and endotoxic shock. Mol Cell Biol. 2000; 20(23):9009-17. PMC: 86554. DOI: 10.1128/MCB.20.23.9009-9017.2000. View

Banerjee S, Arterbery A, Fergus D, Adkins-Regan E . Deprivation of maternal care has long-lasting consequences for the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of zebra finches. Proc Biol Sci. 2011; 279(1729):759-66. PMC: 3248735. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.1265. View

Groeneweg F, Karst H, de Kloet E, Joels M . Rapid non-genomic effects of corticosteroids and their role in the central stress response. J Endocrinol. 2011; 209(2):153-67. DOI: 10.1530/JOE-10-0472. View

Sotnikov S, Wittmann A, Bunck M, Bauer S, Deussing J, Schmidt M . Blunted HPA axis reactivity reveals glucocorticoid system dysbalance in a mouse model of high anxiety-related behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2014; 48:41-51. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.06.006. View

Cottrell E, Seckl J . Prenatal stress, glucocorticoids and the programming of adult disease. Front Behav Neurosci. 2009; 3:19. PMC: 2759372. DOI: 10.3389/neuro.08.019.2009. View

Catalani A, Casolini P, Scaccianoce S, Patacchioli F, Spinozzi P, Angelucci L . Maternal corticosterone during lactation permanently affects brain corticosteroid receptors, stress response and behaviour in rat progeny. Neuroscience. 2000; 100(2):319-25. DOI: 10.1016/s0306-4522(00)00277-3. View

van Oers H, de Kloet E, Whelan T, Levine S . Maternal deprivation effect on the infant's neural stress markers is reversed by tactile stimulation and feeding but not by suppressing corticosterone. J Neurosci. 1998; 18(23):10171-9. PMC: 6793306. View

Lupien S, McEwen B, Gunnar M, Heim C . Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2009; 10(6):434-45. DOI: 10.1038/nrn2639. View

Bateson P, Barker D, Clutton-Brock T, Deb D, DUdine B, Foley R . Developmental plasticity and human health. Nature. 2004; 430(6998):419-21. DOI: 10.1038/nature02725. View

10.

Oitzl M, Champagne D, van der Veen R, de Kloet E . Brain development under stress: hypotheses of glucocorticoid actions revisited. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2009; 34(6):853-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.07.006. View

11.

Kapoor A, Matthews S . Prenatal stress modifies behavior and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function in female guinea pig offspring: effects of timing of prenatal stress and stage of reproductive cycle. Endocrinology. 2008; 149(12):6406-15. DOI: 10.1210/en.2008-0347. View

12.

Lingas R, Dean F, Matthews S . Maternal nutrient restriction (48 h) modifies brain corticosteroid receptor expression and endocrine function in the fetal guinea pig. Brain Res. 1999; 846(2):236-42. DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(99)02058-2. View

13.

Hayward L, Richardson J, Grogan M, Wingfield J . Sex differences in the organizational effects of corticosterone in the egg yolk of quail. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2006; 146(2):144-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2005.10.016. View

14.

Rozeboom A, Akil H, Seasholtz A . Mineralocorticoid receptor overexpression in forebrain decreases anxiety-like behavior and alters the stress response in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104(11):4688-93. PMC: 1838662. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0606067104. View

15.

Levine S . Primary social relationships influence the development of the hypothalamic--pituitary--adrenal axis in the rat. Physiol Behav. 2001; 73(3):255-60. DOI: 10.1016/s0031-9384(01)00496-6. View

16.

Weinstock M . The long-term behavioural consequences of prenatal stress. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2008; 32(6):1073-86. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.03.002. View

17.

Smythe J, Murphy D, Timothy C, Costall B . Hippocampal mineralocorticoid, but not glucocorticoid, receptors modulate anxiety-like behavior in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1997; 56(3):507-13. DOI: 10.1016/s0091-3057(96)00244-4. View

18.

Vazquez D, Neal Jr C, Patel P, Kaciroti N, Lopez J . Regulation of corticoid and serotonin receptor brain system following early life exposure of glucocorticoids: long term implications for the neurobiology of mood. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011; 37(3):421-37. PMC: 3273653. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.07.012. View

19.

de Kloet E, Vreugdenhil E, Oitzl M, Joels M . Brain corticosteroid receptor balance in health and disease. Endocr Rev. 1998; 19(3):269-301. DOI: 10.1210/edrv.19.3.0331. View

20.

Boogert N, Zimmer C, Spencer K . Pre- and post-natal stress have opposing effects on social information use. Biol Lett. 2013; 9(2):20121088. PMC: 3639759. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.1088. View