Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 425.2 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to map brain areas immediately activated by elevated plasma levels of stress hormone. |
| Authors: |
Messenger, T. L.*1
; Harder, J.1
; King, J. A.1
; Kulkarni, P.2
; Ferris, C. F.1
1Psych Behav Neurosc, UMASS Medic Sch, Worcester, MA 2MA, 55 Lake Ave North, 06155, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Homeostatic and Neuroendocrine Systems - Stress and the Brain -- Stress-modulated pathways |
| Session: |
425. Anatomy Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, October 25, 2004 9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Hall A-H, Board # DD17 |
| Keywords: | hippocampus, hypothalamus, neural networks, glucocorticoids |
Glucocorticoids are known for their slow-acting genomic effects as transcription factors binding to a soluble steroid receptor. However, there are many reports that glucocorticoids can have immediate effects on neuronal excitability in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of mammals. While the glucocorticoid membrane receptor that presumably mediates this electrical activity has eluded researchers the immediate elctrophysiological and behavioral effects of abrupt increases in plasma levels of stress hormones are undeniable and well documented. Functional MRI with 3D computational analysis in conscious animals provides a method for identifying those brain areas and neural networks sensitive to the abrupt rise in plasma glucocorticoids that occur during a stress response. Rats showed a dose dependent change in brain activity to iv injection of a soluble steroid complex of corticosterone and 2-hydroxypropyl-B-cyclodextrin (vehicle, 1, 2.5, 10 mg/kg). The highest dose resulted in plasma corticosterone levels of approximately 500 ng/ml or what would be equivalent to a maximal stress response. Within one min of injection there was a significant increase in BOLD signal activity in hippocampus, ventral striatum, cingulate and frontal cortices, hebenular nucleus and dorsal medial nucleus of the hypothalamus. These findings using fMRI and BOLD corroborate previous reports identifying brain areas responsive to the immediate effects of stress hormones and extend these finding to include steroid sensitive neural networks that may govern behavior during the stress response. This work was supported by a grant from NIMH MH052280.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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