Expression of GABA(A) receptor alpha3-, theta-, and epsilon-subunit mRNAs during rat CNS development and immunolocalization of the epsilon subunit in developing postnatal spinal cord.

Ionotropic GABA(A) receptors are heteromeric structures composed of a combination of five from at least 16 different subunits. Subunit genes are expressed in distinct cell types at specific times during development. The most abundant native GABA(A) receptors consist of alpha1-, beta2-, and gamma2-subunits that are co-expressed in numerous brain areas.

Oxytocin-containing neurons in the hypothalamic parvicellular paraventricular nucleus of the jerboa: no plasticity related to acute immobilization.

Objectives And Methods: The presence of oxytocin (OT) and its putative participation to the phenotypic plasticity of CRH neurones in the stressed jerboa was investigated. We analysed by immunocytochemistry the OT expression within the hypothalamic parvicellular paraventricular nucleus (pPVN) of male jerboas submitted to an acute immobilization (30 min).

Results: OT presence was clearly demonstrated in the pPVN of the jerboa and no significant difference in the number of OT immunolabeled cells was observed whatever the experimental conditions.

Vasopressin-containing neurons of the hypothalamic parvocellular paraventricular nucleus of the jerboa: plasticity related to immobilization stress.

The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons of the hypothalamic parvocellular paraventricular nucleus (PVN) have a high potential for phenotypical plasticity, allowing them to rapidly modify their neuroendocrine output, depending upon the type of stressors. Indeed, these neurons coexpress other neuropeptides, such as cholecystokinin (CCK), vasopressin (VP), and neurotensin, subserving an eventual complementary function to CRH in the regulation of the pituitary. Unlike in rats, our previous data showed that in jerboas, CCK is not coexpressed within CRH neurons in control as well as stressed animals.

Glucocorticoids down-regulate lipopolysaccharide-induced de novo production of neurotensin mRNA in the rat hypothalamic, paraventricular, corticotrophin-releasing hormone neurons.

Objective: Intraperitoneal injection of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produces inflammation accompanied by activation of the immune system and the secretion of cytokines. Cytokines stimulate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to release the anti-inflammatory corticosterone which controls its own production by acting on the HPA axis. Upstream in the HPA axis are neuroendocrine corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons located in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), whose multipeptidergic phenotype changes during inflammation: while CRH mRNA is up-regulated in these conditions, neurotensin (NT) mRNA expression is induced de novo.

Immunocytochemical detection of cholecystokinin and corticotrophin-releasing hormone neuropeptides in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of the jerboa (Jaculus orientalis): modulation by immobilisation stress.

The hypothalamic response to an environmental stress implicates the corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) neuroendocrine system of the hypothalamic parvicellular paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in addition to other neuropeptides coexpressed within CRH neurones and controlling the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity as well. Such neuropeptides are vasopressin, neurotensin and cholecystokinin (CCK). It has previously been demonstrated that the majority of the CRH neuronal population coexpresses CCK after a peripheral stress in rats.

Paraventricular nucleus neurons producing neurotensin after lipopolysaccharide treatment project to the median eminence.

Inflammation consists in secretion of cytokines that stimulate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to release the anti-inflammatory corticosterone. Upstream in this axis are corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) whose multipeptidergic phenotype changes: both corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNAs and neurotensin mRNAs are up-regulated. Combining in situ hybridization with a retrograde neuronal marker, we demonstrated that neurotensin-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus project to the median eminence.

Specific localization of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 immunoreactivity in oxytocin neurons of the rat hypothalamus.

The transcription factor STAT1 participates in signaling pathways and cellular responses triggered by several cytokines, growth factors and hormones. The present work demonstrates for the first time the immunohistochemical distribution of STAT1 in the rat hypothalamus. STAT1 immunoreactivity was observed in somas, dendrites and axons of neurons throughout the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei and co-localized specifically with oxytocin.

Spatiotemporal analysis of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation in rat brain astrocytes and pituitary following peripheral immune challenge.

The host response to peripheral inflammation induces fever and behavioural depression that are supposed to be centrally mediated by cytokines. Several proinflammatory cytokines activate 'signal transducer and activator of transcription' 3 (STAT3) via gp130-like receptor signaling. In order to determine which cells in the rat brain and pituitary are activated during bacterial inflammation, we investigated in a spatiotemporal manner the activation of STAT3 in these organs following peripheral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.