Stimulation of the prelimbic cortex differentially modulates neuroendocrine responses to psychogenic and systemic stressors

The medial prefrontal cortex is important for normal regulation of stress responses, and is implicated in stress-related affective disease states (e.g. depression). In the current study, we investigated the role of the prelimbic division of the prefrontal cortex in control of responses to psychogenic and systemic stressors (restraint and hypoxia, respectively). Acute stimulation of the prelimbic cortical region with bicuculline methiodide (BMI) caused significant reduction of ACTH and corticosterone responses to restraint and reduced Fos activation of paraventricular nucleus neurons, consistent with a role in central inhibition of acute psychogenic stress responses. In contrast, BMI enhanced corticosterone (but not ACTH) responses to hypoxia via a mechanism suggestive of central PVN drive and enhanced adrenal sensitivity. Acute BMI increased restraint stress-induced Fos activation in known downstream targets of the prelimbic cortex (e.g., the basolateral amygdala and central amygdaloid nuclei), suggesting a connection between modulation of amygdalar signaling and stress inhibition. In contrast, hypoxia caused robust Fos activation in the basolateral and central amygdala, which was not affected by prelimbic BMI injection. The data suggest that the prelimbic cortex stimulation is sufficient to trigger inhibition of the HPA axis to psychogenic stress, but may play a very different role in enhancing HPA responsiveness to physical threats.

Research highlights
► Prelimbic prefrontal cortex inhibits responses to psychological stress in rats.
► Prelimbic cortex enhances responses to physical stress, augmenting adrenal function.
► Prelimbic cortex is critical for integration of stressful information.
► Malfunction of this region may be responsible for aberrant hormonal secretion.