Stimulation of the prelimbic cortex differentially modulates neuroendocrine responses to psychogenic and systemic stressors

PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR

卷:104

Article

Jones, Kenneth R.¹  Myers, Brent¹  Herman, James P.¹ 

[1] Univ Cincinnati, Dept Psychiat & Behav Neurosci, Cincinnati, OH 45237 USA

关键词: Prefrontal cortex;    Infralimbic cortex;    HPA axis;    ACTH;    Corticosterone;    Paraventricular nucleus;    Amygdala;    Adrenal sensitivity;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.03.021

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

The medial prefrontal cortex is important for normal regulation of stress responses, and is implicated in stress-related affective disease states (e.g. depression). In the current study, we investigated the role of the prelimbic division of the prefrontal cortex in control of responses to psychogenic and systemic stressors (restraint and hypoxia, respectively). Acute stimulation of the prelimbic cortical region with bicuculline methiodide (BMI) caused significant reduction of ACTH and corticosterone responses to restraint and reduced Fos activation of paraventricular nucleus neurons, consistent with a role in central inhibition of acute psychogenic stress responses. In contrast, BMI enhanced corticosterone (but not ACM) responses to hypoxia via a mechanism suggestive of central PVN drive and enhanced adrenal sensitivity. Acute BMI increased restraint stress-induced Fos activation in known downstream targets of the prelimbic cortex (e.g., the basolateral amygdala and central amygdaloid nuclei), suggesting a connection between modulation of amygdalar signaling and stress inhibition. In contrast, hypoxia caused robust Fos activation in the basolateral and central amygdala, which was not affected by prelimbic BMI injection. The data suggest that the prelimbic cortex stimulation is sufficient to trigger inhibition of the HPA axis to psychogenic stress, but may play a very different role in enhancing HPA responsiveness to physical threats. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Inc.

【 授权许可】

Free