Suppression of stress immobilization-induced phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 by biting in the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

We have previously reported that acute immobilization stress induces Fos protein. Fos protein is generally used as a marker for neuronal activity and has been linked to phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2), in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Biting behavior during the period of stress reduced the expression of Fos protein. The present immunohistochemical study was designed to determine whether acute immobilization stress induces pERK1/2 in the PVN, and whether the stress-induced pERK1/2 was attenuated by simultaneous biting behavior. Acute immobilization stress, in increments of up to 15 min, produced detectable amounts of pERK1/2 that were proportional to the interval of stress. Biting during the acute immobilization stress significantly reduced the amount of detectable pERK1/2. These results suggest that biting activity during acute stress inhibits pERK1/2 in this region of the brain. It is feasible that the neuronal cellular response to acute stress is regulated, in some part, by inhibition of pERK1/2 by biting.