Differential expression of corticosteroid receptor genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) immune system in response to acute stress

Abstract

Expression of distinct corticosteroid receptor genes, glucocorticoid receptors 1 and 2 (GR-1 and GR-2, respectively) and mineralcorticoid receptor (MR), was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL), spleen, and gill of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after an acute netting stress. Plasma cortisol levels were significantly increased 2 h after stress and returned to prestress levels within 24 h. Consistent with changes in plasma cortisol, GR-2 mRNA levels in PBL increased significantly at 2 h after stress, returning to initial levels by 8 h. In contrast, GR-1 and MR levels in PBL decreased significantly at 24 h after stress, and these reduced levels were maintained for 7 days. Splenic mRNA levels of GR-1 and GR-2 also decreased at 8 h and 24 h after stress, returning to control levels by 7 days, whereas no significant change was observed in MR. In gill, there was no obvious change in corticosteroid receptor mRNA levels after stress, except for a transient decrease at 8 h in MR. These results suggest a variety of roles for the three corticosteroid receptors during immunosuppression in response to acute stress in trout.