Abstract | BACKGROUND: The amygdala is a limbic structure involved in the stress response and the regulation of emotional behaviors, both of which are disrupted in patients with neuropsychiatric illnesses. Because glucocorticoids are mediators of the stress response, we hypothesized that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) messenger ribonucleic acid ( mRNA) levels might be altered in the amygdala. We also hypothesized that estrogen receptor alpha ( ERalpha) mRNA expression might be altered in the amygdala, on the basis of observed gender differences in mental illness. METHODS: Using quantitative film autoradiography after in situ hybridization with human GR and ERalpha probes, we measured mRNA levels on adjacent amygdala sections in four groups (n = 15 each of subjects with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, and unaffected control subjects) provided by the Stanley Consortium. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Our results support and extend previous findings describing a pattern of steroid hormone mRNA alterations that differs depending on which brain region is being examined in a given mental illness.
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Authors | William R Perlman, Maree J Webster, Joel E Kleinman, Cynthia Shannon Weickert |
Journal | Biological psychiatry
(Biol Psychiatry)
Vol. 56
Issue 11
Pg. 844-52
(Dec 01 2004)
ISSN: 0006-3223 [Print] United States |
PMID | 15576061
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antidepressive Agents
- Glucocorticoids
- RNA, Messenger
- Receptors, Estrogen
- Acetylcholinesterase
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Topics |
- Acetylcholinesterase
(metabolism)
- Adult
- Aged
- Amygdala
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Antidepressive Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Autoradiography
(methods)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Brain
(anatomy & histology, metabolism)
- Case-Control Studies
- Depressive Disorder, Major
- Female
- Glucocorticoids
(metabolism)
- Humans
- In Situ Hybridization
(methods)
- Male
- Mental Disorders
(classification, drug therapy, genetics, metabolism)
- Middle Aged
- Postmortem Changes
- RNA, Messenger
(metabolism)
- Receptors, Estrogen
(genetics, metabolism)
- Schizophrenia
- Sex Factors
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