The expressions of mRNAs for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) in the rat hypothalamus and midbrain during restraint stress

Abstract

Over the past few years, it has been reported that physical and psychological stress elevate plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), and that neural cells can produce IL-6 and have receptors for IL-6 (IL-6R). However, it is unknown whether IL-6 plays a role in regulating the functions of neural cells in response to stress. We demonstrated recently, using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), that the levels of mRNAs for IL-6 and IL-6R in the rat brain are changed by restraint stress for four hours. In the present study, we investigated the expression of mRNAs for IL-6 and the IL-6R in the rat hypothalamus and midbrain during restraint stress. After rats had been restrained for 10, 30, 60, 120 or 240 min, the hypothalamus and midbrain were removed immediately and levels of IL-6 mRNA and of IL-6R mRNA in these regions were determined by RT-PCR. The expression of mRNAs for IL-6 and IL-6R in both regions was reduced after short-term (30–60 min) restraint stress and tended to return toward the control level after 120 min restraint stress. After long-term (240 min) restraint stress, the level of IL-6 mRNA was significantly increased in the midbrain, while the level of IL-6R mRNA was significantly reduced in both regions. These findings suggest that the need for IL-6 might decline after short-term restraint stress and, moreover, that the synthesis and secretion of IL-6 might be enhanced and IL-6 might be needed as a neurotrophic factor in the midbrain after long-term stress.