No effect of prolonged corticosterone over-exposure on NCAM, SGK1, and RGS4 mRNA expression in rat hippocampus

Prolonged over-exposure of rats to corticosterone attenuates 5-HT1A-receptor-mediated responses in hippocampal CA1 cells through an unknown mechanism, not involving downregulation of 5-HT1A receptor expression. We here tested if corticosterone changes 5-HT1A receptor function indirectly, by altering hippocampal mRNA expression of NCAM, SGK1, or RGS4, which all modulate 5-HT1A receptor function. We found that the expression of none of these candidates was affected by corticosterone treatment.