Glucocorticoids Regulate the Synthesis of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Intact and Adrenalectomized Rats but Do Not Affect Its Expression Following Brain Injury

摘要

Short (5 days)-to long-term (4 months) corticosterone (CORT) administration by injection, pellet implantation, or in the drinking water decreased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by 20-40% in hippocampus and cortex of intact rats. In contrast to CORT, adrenalectomy (ADX) caused elevations (50-125%) in hippocampus and cortex GFAP within 12 days of surgery that persisted for at least 4 months. CORT replacement of ADX rats decreased GFAP amount in hippocampus and cortex. The effects of long-term CORT and ADX on GFAP in hippocampus and cortex were also seen in striatum, midbrain, and cerebellum, findings suggestive of brain-wide adrenal steroid regulation of the astrocyte protein. The changes in GFAP amount due to CORT and ADX were paralleled by changes in GFAP mRNA, indicating a possible transcriptional or at least genomic effect of adrenal steroids. (Copyright (c) 1991 International Society for Neurochemistry.)