Glucocorticoids, chronic stress, and obesity☆
Section snippets
Chronic glucocorticoid actions without a concurrent stressor
Probably the best recognized action of glucocorticoids on the HPA axis is strong reduction for the abolition of activity in the system. Chronic treatment with glucocorticoid in the absence of ongoing stress exerts marked feedback effects and is the basis for the well-accepted model of autoregulation in the system. People with diseases, such as severe asthma, or other autoimmune diseases as well as recipients of organ transplants are treated for prolonged periods with exogenous glucocorticoids,
The central stress response network
It now seems unambiguous that, after the action of elevated glucocorticoids and stress, endogenous CRF networks initiate and recruit the activation of the neural networks that promote the changes from normal in behaviors, autonomic neural activity and neuroendocrine responses, that are characteristic of organisms undergoing a period of chronic stress. Extrahypothalamic CRF neuronal cell groups are found throughout the brain: in the central nucleus of the amygdala, Barrington's nucleus, bed
The downside of the chronic stress response
Although the glucocorticoids appear to make animals and humans more fit to handle stressors, both acute and chronic, through their metabolic actions and multiple effects on the response networks in brain, in our current society there are roadblocks to allowing the normal long-term and life-saving actions to occur (see, e.g., Dallman et al., 2004, Dallman et al., 2005). The incidence of chronic social stress is increased, high calorie palatable foods are readily available and the physical effort
References (373)
- et al.
Amygdala, kindling, anxiety, and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF)
Physiol. Behav.
(1993) Regulation of pituitary ACTH secretion during chronic stress
Front. Neuroendocrinol.
(1994)Regulation of piutuitary ACTH secretion during chronic stress
Front. Neuroendocrinol.
(1994)- et al.
Glucocorticoid regulation of proenkephalin gene expression in the rat forebrain
Molec. Brain Res.
(1992) - et al.
Effects of chronic stress on anterior pituitary and brain corticotropin-releasing factor receptors
Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.
(1993) - et al.
Response of anterior pituitary hormones to chronic stress
Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev.
(1986) - et al.
The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-system and monoaminergic afferents in the central amygdala: investigations with various mouse strains and comparison with the rat
Neuroscience
(2005) Serotonin neurons, neuroplasticity, and homeostasis of neural tissue
Neuropsychopharmacology
(1999)Modern views on an ancient chemical: serotonin effects on cell proliferation, maturation and apoptosis
Brain Res. Bull.
(2001)- et al.
Adrenalcortical influence on rat brain tryptophan-hydroxylase activity
Brain Res.
(1974)
Overfeeding-induced obesity in rats: Insulin sensitivity and autonomic regulation of metabolism
Metabolism
Free fatty acids and pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Trends Endocrinol. Metab.
Long double-stranded RNA-mediated RNA interference as a tool to achieve site-specific silencing of hypothalamic neuropeptides
Brain Res. Brain Res. Protoc.
Neuroanatomical basis for facilitation of hypothalamic-pitutiary-adrenal responses to a novel stressor after chronic stress
Neuroscience
Neuroanatomical basis for facilitation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to a novel stressor after chronic stress
Neuroscience
Neuroanatomical basis for facilitation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal responses to a novel stress after chronic stress
Neuroscience
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus alters rhythms in core temperature and energy balance in a state-dependent manner
Brain Res.
Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
Intraventricular corticotropin-releasing factor enhances behavioral effects of novelty
Life Sci.
Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonist blocks activating and ‘anxiogenic’ actions of CRF in the rat
Brain Res.
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonist blocks activating and ‘anxiogenic’ actions of CRF in the rat
Brain Res.
Stress-induced sensitization of CRH-ir but not P-CREB-ir responsivity in the rat central nervous system
Brain Res.
Thalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons collateralize to innervate the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens
Brain Res.
Does central obesity reflect “Cushing's disease of the omentum”?
Lancet
Physiological and behavioral effects of chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of corticotropin-releasing factor in the rat
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Temporal and spatial dynamics of corticosteroid receptor down-regulation in rat brain following social defeat
Physiol. Behav.
Neuroendocrine pharmacology of stress
Eur. J. Pharmacol.
Afferent connections of the thalamic paraventricular and parataenial nuclei in the rat. A retrograde tracing study with iontophoretic application of fluorogold
Brain Res.
Differential influence of corticosterone and dexamethasone on schedule-induced polydipsia in adrenalectomized rats
Behav. Brain Res.
Central administration of a CRF antagonist blocks the development of stress-induced behavioral sensitization
Brain Res.
Measuring of extracellular cortisol and corticotropin-releasing hormone in the amygdala using immunosensor coupled microdialysis
J. Neurosci. Meth.
Glucocorticoid feedback increases the sensitivity of the limbic system to stress
Physiol. Behav.
Stress induces CRF release in the paraventricular nucleus, and both CRF and GABA release in the amygdala
Physiol. Behav.
Role of corticotropin-releasing factor, vasopressin and the autonomic nervous system in learning and memory
Eur. J. Pharmacol.
Stress update. Adaptations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to chronic stress
Trends Endocrinol. Metab.
A spoon of sugar: feedback signals of energy stores and corticosterone regulate responses to chronic stress
Physiol. Behav.
Fast glucocorticoid actions on brain: back to the future
Front. Neuroendocrinol.
Feast and famine: critical role of glucocorticoids with insulin in daily energy flow
Front. Neuroendocrinol.
Reset of feedback in the adrenocortical system: an apparent shift in sensitivity of adrenocorticotropin to inhibition by corticosterone between morning and evening
Endocrinology
Corticosterone: narrow range required for normal body and thymus weight and ACTH
Am. J. Physiol.
Feedback and facilitation in the adrenocortical system: unmasking facilitation by partial inhibition of the glucocorticoid response to prior stress
Endocrinology
Chronic cold in adrenalectomized, corticosterone (B)-treated rats: facilitated corticotropin responses to acute stress emerge as B increases
Endocrinology
Clamped corticosterone (B) reveals the effect of endogenous B on both facilitated responsivity to acute restraint and metabolic responses to chronic stress
Stress
Feedback sensitivity of the rat hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and its capacity to adjust to exogenous corticosterone
Endocrinology
Chronic social stress alters levels of corticotropin-releasing factor and arginine vasopressin mRNA in rat brain
J. Neurosci.
Chronic administration of the selective corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor antagonist CP-154-256: behavioral, endocrine and neurochemical effects in the rat
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therapeut.
Non-peptide corticotropin-releasing hormone antagonists: syntheses and structure-activity relationships of 2-anilinopyrimidines and -triazines
J. Med. Chem.
An integrative theory of locus coeruleus-norepinephrine function: adaptive gain and optimal performance
Annu. Rev. Neurosci.
Corticosterone regulation of tryptophan hydroxylase in midbrain of rat
Science
Reduction of stress-induced behavior by antagonism of corticotropin-releasing hormone 2 (CRH2) receptors in lateral septum, or CRH1 receptors in amygdala
J. Neurosci.
Cited by (157)
Severe Obesity Associated With Pituitary Corticotroph Hyperplasia and Neoplasia
2023, Endocrine PracticeRelationship between psychological stress and ghrelin concentrations in pregnant women with overweight or obesity
2022, PsychoneuroendocrinologyHigh-sugar/high-fat diet modulates the effects of chronic stress in cariocas high- and low-conditioned freezing rats
2022, Physiology and BehaviorPeripherally administered amylin inhibits stress-like behaviors and enhances cognitive performance
2022, Physiology and Behavior
- ☆
Preparation of this article and many of the experiments discussed were supported, in part, by NIH grants DK 28172 and DA 16944