Mechanisms involved in glucocorticoid induction of pituitary GH expression during embryonic development.

ABSTRACT: Glucocorticoid hormones are involved in functional differentiation of GH-producing somatotrophs. Glucocorticoid treatment prematurely induces GH expression in mammals and birds in a process requiring protein synthesis and Rat sarcoma (Ras) signaling. The objective of this study was to investigate mechanisms through which glucocorticoids initiate GH expression during embryogenesis, taking advantage of the unique properties of chicken embryos as a developmental model. We determined that stimulation of GH expression occurred through transcriptional activation of GH, rather than enhancement of mRNA stability, and this process requires histone deacetylase activity. Through pharmacological inhibition, we identified the ERK1/2 pathway as a likely downstream Ras effector necessary for glucocortico

SUBMITTER: Ellestad LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4330307 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature