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Horm Metab Res 2006; 38(4): 246-252
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-925344
Original
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Expression of Corticosterone-binding Globulin in the Rat Hypothalamus

B.  Möpert1 , Z.  Herbert2 , J.  D.  Caldwell3 , G.  F.  Jirikowski1
  • 1Dept. of Anatomy II, Friedrich Schiller University, FSU Jena, Germany
  • 2Department Biology II., Neurobiology, Ludwig Maximilians University, LMU München, Germany
  • 3Dept. Biomed. Sci, University of Illinois at Rockford, Medical School, Rockford IL, USA.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 27 October 2005

Accepted after revision 8 February 2006

Publication Date:
15 May 2006 (online)

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Abstract

We observed coexistence of corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) with vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) in magnocellular neurons in rat hypothalamus by combined immunoperoxidase staining and immunofluorescence. A portion of the supraoptic and of the paraventricular neurons showed double immunostaining of CBG with either VP or with OT. CBG staining was intensified by pretreating animals with colchicine to block axonal transport. CBG was also observed in widespread axonal projections throughout the lateral hypothalamus, the median eminence and the posterior pituitary lobe. Single ependymal cells and some of the endocrine cells in the anterior lobe contained specific CBG immunoreactivity. In situ hybridization of semithin sections with a synthetic oligonucleotide probe to CBG mRNA provided staining of magnocellular hypothalamic neurons, but not ependymal cells or anterior lobe cells. Western blots of CBG extracted by affinity chromatography from hypothalamus homogenates showed a band at approximately 50 kDa. Our observations indicate the intrinsic expression of CBG in peptidergic hypothalamus neurons in rat. The multiple locations of CBG-expressing neurons indicate multiple functional properties, probably exceeding the role of a mere steroid transporter. CBG is likely to be subject to axonal transport and secretion in a neuropeptide-like fashion, perhaps involved in neuroendocrine regulation, which may include stress responses.

Key words

Corticosterone · steroid · vasopressin · oxytocin · posterior lobe · hypothalamus · axonal transport

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Prof. Dr. G. F. Jirikowski

Inst. Für Anatomie II

Klinikum der FSU · Teichgraben 7 · 07749 Jena · Germany ·

Fax: +49 (3641) 93 85 52

Email: gjir@mti.uni-jena.de