Nuclear factor kappa B in the dorsal raphe of macaques: an anatomical link for steroids, cytokines and serotonin.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) is a transcription factor that activates gene expression in response to proinflammatory cytokines, and elevated cytokines are associated with depression, which has a serotonergic component. We questioned (1) whether serotonin neurons contain NFkappaB, (2) whether NFkappaB detection with immunocytochemistry is changed in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) by ovarian hormone treatment and (3) whether ovarian hormones regulate midbrain NFkappaB gene or protein expression.

Methods

Monkeys were spayed and treated with placebo, estrogen (E), progesterone (P) or E+P for 1 month (n = 4 animals/treatment group), and the midbrain was harvested for immunocytochemistry and stereology. An antibody that detects nuclear location-specific (NLS)-NFkapp

SUBMITTER: Bethea CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1413962 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature