Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dexamethasone Attenuates by Colchicine Induced Fos Expression in the Rat Deep Cerebellar and Vestibular Nuclei

  • Published:
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

1. The intent of the present study was to find out whether dexamethasone pretreatment may affect the induction of Fos protein in cell nuclei of the cerebellar vestibular neuronal complex (CVNC) elicited by central administration of colchicine. Specifically, the rate of the dexamethasone-sensitive cell population was analyzed and compared at different levels of the CVNC using a light microscopic avidin-biotin peroxidase immunohistochemistry.

2. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with dexamethasone 3 days prior (2.5 mg/kg/day, s.c.) and 24 h after an intracerebroventricular delivery of colchicine (60 g/10 L). Animals were sacrificed 48 h after colchicine treatment by a transcardial perfusion with fixative.

3. Dexamethasone in itself had no effect on the activity of cells of the CVNC. However, in colchicine treated animals, which exhibited a large number of Fos-positive cells over the entire CVNC, the dexamethasone elicited a substantial reduction in the number of the Fos-immunoreactive cells over the CVNC. Distinct dexamethasone dependent reduction (50–90%) of Fos-immunoreactivity was observed in each of the deep cerebellar nuclei. On the other hand, less number of dexamethasone-sensitive cells were recognized in the vestibular structures. From these, maximal Fos-inhibition by dexamethasone was recognized in the medial vestibular nucleus, however, even in this case the number of suppressed cells did not exceed 50%.

4. The results provide for the first time evidence about the dexamethasone dependent reduction of Fos-immunoreactivity in the cells of the CVNC in response to stimulation elicited by colchicine. The data also indicate that the glucocorticoids might be involved in the regulation of some functions of the CVNC under stress conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Ahima, R. S., and Harlan, R. E. (1990). Charting of type II glucocorticoid receptor-like immunoreactivity in the rat central nervous system. Neuroscience 39:579–604.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahima, R. S., Tagoe, C.N., and Harlan, R. E. (1992). Type II corticosteroid receptor-like immunoreactivity in the rat cerebellar cortex: Differential regulation by corticosterone. Neuroendocrinology 55:683–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alice, C., Paul, A. E., Sansom, A. J., Maclennan, K., Darlington, C. L., and Smith, P. F. (1998). The effects of steroids on vestibular compensation and vestibular nucleus neuronal activity in the guinea pig. J. Vestib. Res. 8:201–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alonso, G., Szafarczyk, A., and Assenmacher, I. (1986). Immunoreactivity of hypothalamoneurohypophysial neurons which secrete corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and vasopressin (Vp): Immunocytochemical evidence for a correlation with their functional state in colchicine-treated rats. Exp. Brain Res. 61:497–505.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aronsson, M., Fuxe, K., Dong, Y., Agnati, L. F., Okret, S., and Gustafsson, J. A. (1988) Localization of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in the male rat brain by in situ hybridization.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:9331–9335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkenbosch, F., and Tilders, F. J.H. (1988). Effect of axonal transport blockade on corticotropin-releasing factor immunoreactivity in the median eminence of intact and adrenalectomized rats: Relationship between depletion rate and secretory activity. Brain Res. 442:312–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beyer, H. S., Matta, S. G., and Sharp, B. M. (1988). Regulation of the messenger ribonucleic acid for corticotropin-releasing factor in the paraventricular nucleus and other brain sites of the rat. Endocrinology 123: 2117–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birmingham, M. K., Sar, M., and Stumpf, W. E. (1993). Dexamethasone target sites in the central nervous system and their potential relevance to mental illness. Cell. Mol. Neurobiol. 13:373–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briski, K. P., DiPasquale, B. M., and Gillen, E. (1997). Induction of immediate-early gene expression in preoptic and hypothalamic neurons by the glucocorticoid receptor agonist, dexamethasone. Brain Res. 768:185–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, H. E., Garcia, M. M., and Harlan, R. E. (1998).Atwo focal plane method for digital quantification of nuclear immunoreactivity in large brain areas using NIH-image software. Brain Res. Protoc. 2:264–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calogero, A. E., Liapi, C., and Chrousos, G. P. (1991). Hypothalamic and suprahypothalamic effects of prolonged treatment with dexamethasone in the rat. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 14:277–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, S. A., and Dutia, M. B. (1999). Lesion-induced plasticity in rat vestibular nucleus neurons dependent on glucocorticoid receptor activation. J. Physiol. 518:151–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceccatelli, S., Cortes, R., and Hokfelt, T. (1991). Effect of reserpine and colchicine on neuropeptidemRNA levels in the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res. 9:57–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, S. E., Martin, J. H., and Ghez, C. (2000). Effect of inactivation of the anterior interpositus nucleus on the kinematic and dynamic control of multijoint movement. J. Neurophysiol. 84:1988–2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohanics, J., Kovacs, K. J., and Makara, G. B. (1990). Oxytocinergic neurons in the rat hypothalamus. Dexamethasone-reversible increase in their corticotropin-releasing factor-41-like immunoreactivity in response to osmotic stimulation. Neuroendocrinology 51:515–522.

    Google Scholar 

  • Funder, J.W., and Steppard, K. (1987). Adrenocortical steroids and the brain. Annu. Rev. Physiol. 49:397–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, E., and Granoff, D. M. (1968). Increased voluntary running and decreased motor coordination in mice after neonatal corticosterone implantation. Exp. Neurol. 22: 661–673.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imaki, T., Shibasaki, T., Hotta, M., and Demura, H. (1992). Early induction of c-fos precedes increased expression of corticotropin-releasing factor messenger ribonucleic acid in the paraventricular nucleus after immobilization stress. Endocrinology 131:240–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiss, A., and Aguilera, G. (1992). Participation of ® 1-adrenergic receptors in the secretion of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone during stress. Neuroendocrinology 56:153–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiss, A., and Aguilera, G. (2000). Role of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors in the regulation of CRH mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus during stress. Cell. Mol. Neurobiol. 20:683–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiss, A., and Jezova, D. (1998). Stress and colchicine do not induce release of galanin from the external zone of the median eminence. Histochem. J. 30:569–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitraki, E., Karandrea, D., and Kittas, C. (1999). Long-lasting effects of stress on glucocorticoid receptor gene expression in the rat brain. Neuroendocrinology 69:331–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, K., Kiss, J. Z., and Makara, G. B. (1986). Glucocorticoid implants around the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus prevent the increase of corticotropin-releasing factor and arginine vasopressin immunostaining induced by adrenalectomy. Neuroendocrinology 44:229–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, K., and Makara, G. B. (1988). Corticosterone and dexamethasone act at different brain sites to inhibit adrenalectomy induced adrenocorticotropin hypersecretion. Brain Res. 474:205–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, A., Ahima, R. S., Krozowski, Z., and Harlan, R. E. (1992).Postnatal development of corticosteroid receptor immunoreactivity in the rat cerebellum and brain stem. Neuroendocrinology 55:695–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo, X., Kiss, A., Rabadan-Diehl, C., and Aguilera, G. (1995). Regulation of hypothalamic and pituitary corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid by adrenalectomy and glucocorticoids. Endocrinology 136:3877–3883.

    Google Scholar 

  • McEwen, B. S., De Kloet, E. R., Rostene, W. (1986). Adrenal steroid receptors and actions in the nervous system. Physiol. Rev. 66:1121–1187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikkelsen, J.D., Vrang, N., and Mrosovsky, N. (1998). Expression of Fos in the circadian system following nonphotic stimulation. Brain Res. Bull. 47:367–376.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, J. I., and Curran, T. (1989). Stimulus-transcription coupling in neurons: Role of celluar immediateearly genes. Trends Neurosci. 12:459–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paxinos, G., and Watson, C. (1986). The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, Academic Press, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirnik, Z., and Kiss, A. (2002). Detection of oxytocin mRNAin hypertonic saline Fos-activated PVN neurons: Comparison of chromogens in dual immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization procedure. Endocr. Regul. 36:23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabadan-Diehl, C., Makara, G. B., Kiss, A., Zelena, D., and Aguilera, G. (1997). Regulation of pituitary corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) receptor mRNA and CRH binding during adrenalectomy: Role of glucocorticoids and hypothalamic factors. J. Neuroendocrinol. 9:689–697.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawchenko, P. E. (1987). Evidence for a local site of action for glucocorticoids in inhibiting CRF and vasopressin expression in the paraventricular nucleus. Brain Res. 403:213–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, S., Salas, M., and Vukovich, K. (1970). Hormonal effects on ontogenyt of swimming ability in the rat: Assessment of central nervous system development. Science 168:147–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R. J., Tannery, N. H., and Lafer, E. M. (1989). In situ hybridization mapping of glucocorticoid receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in rat brain. Mol. Endocrinol. 3:48–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Surnina, H. Iu., and Dygalo, N. N. (2000). Animal motor activity and cerebellar beta-adrenoreceptors after disturbance of the glucocorticoid balance. Zh. Vyssh. Deiat. Im. Pavlova 50:1035–1037.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tempel, D. L., and Leibowitz, S. F. (1994). Adrenal steroid receptors: Interactions with brain neuropeptide systems in relation tu nutrient intake and metabolism. J. Neuroendocrinol. 6:479–501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woldbye, D. P., Greisen, M. H., Bolwig, T.G., Larsen, P. J., and Mikkelsen, J.D. (1996). Prolonged induction of c-fos in neuropeptide Y-and somatostatin-immunoreactive neurons of the rat dentate gyrus after electroconvulsive stimulation. Brain Res. 720:111–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamanaka, T., Sasa, M., Amano, T., Miyahara, H., and Matsunaga, T. (1995). Role of glucocorticoid in vestibular compensation in relation to activation of vestibular nucleus neurons. Acta Otolaryngol. Suppl. 519:168–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yehuda, R., McDonald, D., Heller, H., and Meyer, J. (1988). Maze learning behavior in early adrenalectomized rats. Physiol. Behav. 44:373–381.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Experimental Endocrinology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Zdeno Pirnik & Alexander Kiss

Authors
  1. Zdeno Pirnik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alexander Kiss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pirnik, Z., Kiss, A. Dexamethasone Attenuates by Colchicine Induced Fos Expression in the Rat Deep Cerebellar and Vestibular Nuclei. Cell Mol Neurobiol 22, 431–444 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021063621526

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021063621526

Search

Navigation