Psychological stress, but not physical stress, causes increase in diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) mRNA expression in mouse brains

Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2002 Jul 15;104(1):103-9. doi: 10.1016/s0169-328x(02)00219-x.

Abstract

Effects of conditioned emotional stimuli (CES), which induce psychological stress, on the expression of cerebral diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) mRNA in mouse were examined using a communication box. Cerebral DBI mRNA expression significantly increased in a time-dependent manner after the application of CES. The maximal enhancement of DBI mRNA expression was observed 2 days after the application of CES, and this increase faded out over 7 days after the treatment. Flunitrazepam (1 mg/kg), an agonist for central benzodiazepine (BZD) receptors, completely abolished the CES-induced elevation of cerebral DBI contents and its mRNA expressions. These results indicate that cerebral DBI is enhanced by psychological stress, which is regulated by central BZD receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / pharmacology
  • Anxiety / genetics
  • Anxiety / metabolism
  • Anxiety / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
  • Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology
  • Diazepam Binding Inhibitor / metabolism*
  • Flunitrazepam / pharmacology
  • GABA-A Receptor Agonists
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics
  • Stress, Physiological / metabolism*
  • Stress, Physiological / physiopathology
  • Stress, Psychological / genetics
  • Stress, Psychological / metabolism*
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / physiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Diazepam Binding Inhibitor
  • GABA-A Receptor Agonists
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Flunitrazepam