Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide controls stimulus-transcription coupling in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to mediate sustained hormone secretion during stress.

ABSTRACT: External and internal stimuli that threaten homeostasis trigger coordinated stress responses through activation of specialised neuroendocrine circuits. In mammals, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis mediates responses to stressors such as restraint, ultimately enhancing adrenocortical hormone secretion. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been implicated in central control of the HPA axis, and we have recently shown PACAP-dependent expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and secretion of corticosterone in response to restraint. We now provide a more detailed analysis of PACAP-dependent HPA axis stimulation in the mouse, indicating that the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is the primary site of action. We demonstrate by quantitati

SUBMITTER: Stroth N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3183119 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature