Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine by quantitative in situ hybridization the effects of an acute stress on the expression of the POMC gene in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) of the rat. In control animals, the highest levels of POMC mRNA were observed in the posterior periventricular region of the MBH. Lower levels were found in the anterior and posterior arcuate nucleus. At the end of a one hour immobilization, a small decrease (−8%) was observed in the periventricular region only. Four hours after the end of immobilization, increases in POMC mRNA levels were detected in the anterior part (7%), in the posterior part (25%) and in the periventricular region (13%) of the MBH. These results suggest that MBH POMC-derived peptides might be an important component in the central response to stress.
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