Stress and glucocorticoids regulated corticotropin releasing factor in rat prefrontal cortex

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is considered as the central driving force in the stress response and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of depression. CRF neurons have been identified to locate in most regions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region that is highly associated with the control of emotion and cognition. However, little is known on the regulation of CRF in this region. In this study, we aimed to identify the regulatory effect of acute restraint stress and glucocorticoid on PFC CRF and characterize the possible function of CRF in the PFC. We found that acute restraint stress increased and glucocorticoid decreased PFC CRF mRNA expression. The expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was found to colocalize with CRF neurons in the PFC. In addition, recruitment of GR by the CRF promoter was observed in vivo. Specific attention was paid to the effect of CRF on CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) expression in primary PFC cultures. The results showed that CRF increased CRFR1 expression through the MEK-ERK1/2 pathway. In summary, this study may contribute to the better understanding of CRF functions in the PFC.

► Acute restraint stress increases rat PFC CRF mRNA expression.
► Glucocorticoid decreases rat PFC CRF mRNA expression.
► CRF could increase CRFRI expression through the MEK-ERK1/2 pathway.