Premium
Forebrain mineralocorticoid receptor overexpression enhances memory, reduces anxiety and attenuates neuronal loss in cerebral ischaemia
Author(s) -
Lai Maggie,
Horsburgh Karen,
Bae SungEun,
Carter Roderick N.,
Stenvers Dirk J.,
Fowler Jill H.,
Yau Joyce L.,
GomezSanchez Celso E.,
Holmes Megan C.,
Kenyon Christopher J.,
Seckl Jonathan R.,
Macleod Malcolm R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05427.x
Subject(s) - hippocampus , mineralocorticoid receptor , endocrinology , forebrain , medicine , premovement neuronal activity , ischemia , neuroscience , receptor , biology , psychology , central nervous system
The nuclear mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), a high‐affinity receptor for glucocorticoids, is highly expressed in the hippocampus where it underpins cognitive, behavioural and neuroendocrine regulation. Increased neuronal MR expression occurs early in the response to cellular injury in vivo and in vitro and is associated with enhanced neuronal survival. To determine whether increased neuronal MR might be causal in protecting against ischaemic damage in vivo we generated a forebrain‐specific MR‐overexpressing transgenic mouse (MR‐Tg) under the control of the CamKII alpha promoter, and subjected mice to transient cerebral global ischaemia induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 20 min. We also separately assessed the effects of MR overexpression on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity and cognitive and affective functions in noninjured animals. Our results showed that MR‐Tg mice had significantly reduced neuronal death following transient cerebral global ischaemia compared to wild‐type littermates. This effect was not associated with alterations in basal or poststress HPA axis function or in arterial blood pressure. MR‐Tg mice also demonstrated improved spatial memory retention, reduced anxiety and altered behavioural response to novelty. The induction of neuronal MR appears to offer a protective response which has potential therapeutic implications in cerebral ischaemia and cognitive and affective disorders.