Urocortin 2-Deficient Mice Exhibit Gender-Specific Alterations in Circadian Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Depressive-Like Behavior

Gender differences in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and the prevalence of mood disorders are well documented. Urocortin 2, a recently identified member of the corticotropin-releasing factor family, is expressed in discrete neuroendocrine and stress-related nuclei of the rodent...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of neuroscience 2006-05, Vol.26 (20), p.5500-5510
Main Authors: Chen, Alon, Zorrilla, Eric, Smith, Sean, Rousso, David, Levy, Coree, Vaughan, Joan, Donaldson, Cindy, Roberts, Amanda, Lee, Kuo-Fen, Vale, Wylie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - metabolism
Animals
Behavior, Animal - physiology
Brain - metabolism
Brain - physiopathology
Cells, Cultured
Chimera
Circadian Rhythm - genetics
Corticosterone - metabolism
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - genetics
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism
Depressive Disorder - genetics
Depressive Disorder - metabolism
Depressive Disorder - physiopathology
Disease Models, Animal
Drinking - physiology
Female
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiopathology
Ligands
Male
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Mice, Mutant Strains
Pituitary-Adrenal System - metabolism
Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiopathology
Sex Characteristics
Stress, Psychological - genetics
Stress, Psychological - metabolism
Stress, Psychological - physiopathology
Urocortins
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Gender differences in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and the prevalence of mood disorders are well documented. Urocortin 2, a recently identified member of the corticotropin-releasing factor family, is expressed in discrete neuroendocrine and stress-related nuclei of the rodent CNS. To determine the physiological role of urocortin 2, mice null for urocortin 2 were generated and HPA axis activity, ingestive, and stress-related behaviors and alterations in expression levels of CRF-related ligands and receptors were examined. Here we report that female, but not male, mice lacking urocortin 2 exhibit a significant increase in the basal daily rhythms of ACTH and corticosterone and a significant decrease in fluid intake and depressive-like behavior. The differential phenotype of urocortin 2 deficiency in female and male mice may imply a role for urocortin 2 in these gender differences.
ISSN:0270-6474
1529-2401
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3955-05.2006