RESEARCH
Altered expression of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in plasma, hypothalamus and brainstem is associated with HPA axis activity and TPH expression in chronically stressed rats.
In rats exposed to 5-week CUMS, plasma and central NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels increased and correlated with HPA axis activity, behavioral measures and brainstem TPH; correlations are preliminary (small sample).
Rats underwent 5-week chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS); ELISA quantified plasma mature nesfatin-1 and Western blot detected full-length NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in hypothalamus and brainstem.
CUMS significantly increased plasma nesfatin-1 as well as hypothalamic and brainstem NUCB2/nesfatin-1; plasma nesfatin-1 correlated positively with corticosterone and FST immobility and negatively with sucrose preference and weight gain.
Brainstem NUCB2/nesfatin-1 correlated positively with tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), while hypothalamic NUCB2/nesfatin-1 showed no significant correlations; correlational analyses were exploratory and limited by a small CUMS group (n=6).