Glucocorticoid receptor number predicts increase in amygdala activity after severe stress.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Individuals who are exposed to a traumatic event are at increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have shown that increased amygdala activity is frequently found in patients with PTSD. In addition, pre-trauma glucocorticoid receptor (GR) number in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been found to be a significant predictor for the development of PTSD symptoms. Research in rodents has shown that the response of basolateral amygdala neurons to corticosterone is mediated by GR. However, to the best of our knowledge, no previous study has investigated GR number in PBMCs and amygdala function in humans.

METHODS:

To investigate whether peripheral GR number is related to amygdala functioning, we assessed GR number in PBMCs of healthy soldiers before their deployment to Afghanistan. Amygdala functioning was assessed with fMRI before and after deployment.

RESULTS:

We found that pre-deployment GR number was significantly negatively correlated to pre-deployment amygdala activity. More importantly, pre-deployment GR number predicted the increase in amygdala activity by deployment.

DISCUSSION:

Our results demonstrate that peripheral GR number is associated with amygdala functioning and predicts the increase in amygdala activity following military deployment in healthy individuals who did not develop PTSD. It is uncertain how this relationship is mediated mechanistically, but future studies should examine the relation of GR and amygdala activity to determine whether this is part of a common pathway leading to increased vulnerability to stress-related disorders.

• Authors: Elbert Geuze, Guido A van Wingen, Mirjam van Zuiden, Arthur R Rademaker, Eric Vermetten, Annemieke Kavelaars, Guillén Fernández, Cobi J Heijnen
• Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology (Psychoneuroendocrinology) Vol. 37 Issue 11 Pg. 1837-44 (Nov 2012) ISSN: 1873-3360 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22503140 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Receptors, Glucocorticoid
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Afghan Campaign 2001-
• Amygdala (physiology)
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (blood)
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (chemistry)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Military Personnel (psychology)
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Receptors, Glucocorticoid (analysis, metabolism)
• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic (physiopathology, psychology)
• Stress, Psychological (physiopathology, psychology)
• Young Adult