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NEUROREGULATION AND MOTILITY

Corticosteroid receptor-mediated mechanisms in the amygdala regulate anxiety and colonic sensitivity

Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Submitted 13 February 2007 ; accepted in final form 8 March 2007

Our previous studies have shown that stereotaxic implantation of corticosterone (Cort) onto the central amygdaloid nucleus increases both anxiety and colonic sensitivity. The goal of this study was to examine the relative importance of amygdaloid glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-mediated mechanisms in the induction of anxiety and colonic hypersensitivity. In male Fischer 344 rats, Cort or cholesterol micropellets were stereotaxically implanted bilaterally at the dorsal boundary of the central amygdaloid nucleus either alone or in combination with a GR antagonist, mifepristone, or a MR antagonist, spironolactone. Anxiety was assessed on the elevated plus maze and quantified as the percentage of time spent in open arm exploration. Colonic sensitivity was measured by recording a visceromotor response, the number of abdominal muscle contractions in response to colorectal distension. In Cort-implanted rats there was a significant reduction in the percentage of time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze compared with cholesterol controls, indicating increased anxiety. Furthermore, colonic hypersensitivity was observed in response to colorectal distension compared with rats with cholesterol implants. In rats with Cort implants combined with either a GR or MR antagonist, there was a significant inhibition of anxiety and colonic hypersensitivity. Our data suggest that both GR and MR play a critical role in Cort-induced anxiety and colonic hypersensitivity.

corticosterone; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; irritable bowel syndrome

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Myers and B. Greenwood-Van Meerveld Divergent effects of amygdala glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in the regulation of visceral and somatic pain Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, February 1, 2010; 298(2): G295 - G303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]