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Current Molecular Pharmacology

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1874-4672
ISSN (Online): 1874-4702

The Glucocorticoid Analog Dexamethasone Alters the Expression and the Distribution of Dopamine Receptors and Enkephalin within Cortico- Subcortical Regions

Author(s): Felice Iasevoli, Luigi Aloj, Gianmarco Latte, Livia Avvisati, Federica Marmo, Carmine Tomasetti, Elisabetta F. Buonaguro, Chiara Simeoli, Rosario Pivonello, Annamaria Colao and Andrea de Bartolomeis

Volume 6, Issue 3, 2013

Page: [149 - 155] Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/187446720603140415215941

Price: $65

Abstract

In humans, glucocorticoid excess may cause neuropsychiatric symptoms, including psychosis and cognitive impairment, and glucocorticoid signaling hyperactivation may sensitize to substance of abuse. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether exposure to glucocorticoid excess triggers molecular changes in dopaminergic and opioidergic systems within relevant forebrain areas. We acutely exposed Sprague-Dawley rats to dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid analog, or vehicle and evaluated the mRNA expression of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors and enkephalin within the cortex, the striatum, and the midbrain.

Dexamethasone reduced mRNA expression of D1 receptor and enkephalin in the cortex. In the striatum, dexamethasone reduced the expression of D1 receptor mRNA, but not that of D2 receptor and enkephalin. No significant changes in D2 receptor mRNA expression were observed in the midbrain. Basal distribution of D1 and D2 receptor mRNA showed a clear-cut striatal/cortical gradient, while this distribution was less obvious for enkephalin mRNA. Dexamethasone increased the cortico-striatal separation in terms of D1 and D2 receptor mRNA expression.

These molecular changes may represent adaptive mechanisms to dexamethasone-induced potentiation of dopaminergic and opioidergic transmission, mostly in cortical areas.

Keywords: Cognition, cortex, cortisol, dexamethasone, gene expression, glucocorticoid, schizophrenia, striatum.


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