Effects of adrenalectomy on CART expression in the rat arcuate nucleus

WOS: 000184888100003PubMed ID: 12872289In order to test for glucocorticoid regulation of CART in the arcuate nucleus, adrenalectomies (ADX) and hormone replacements (HRs) were carried out in groups of rats. CART mRNA levels were determined by in situ hybridization and CART peptide levels by immunocytochemistry. ADX caused a lowering of CART mRNA and peptides levels in the arcuate and this was reversed by HR. These results indicate a glucocorticoid regulation of CART in the arcuate. The regulation could be direct through an action of glucocorticoid receptors or indirectly through ADX-induced changes in leptin levels. These findings suggest a role for CART in the stress response. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.NCRR NIH HHSUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) [RR00165]; NIDA NIH HHSUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) [DA 00418, DA 10732