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NOCICEPTIN/ORPHANIN FQ (N/OFQ) REGULATION OF THE STRESS RESPONSE: INTERACTION BETWEEN PROLACTIN AND THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL (HPA) AXIS

Nayar, Shweta

Abstract Details

2013, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Zoology.
The role of N/OFQ in regulating the HPA axis under resting and stress conditions was determined using postpartum and virgin female N/OFQ wildtype and knockout mice. The interaction between prolactin (PRL) and the HPA axis was investigated using postpartum female mice housed with their pups, i.e. under hyperprolactinemic conditions and separated from their pups for 10 minutes or 24 hours, i.e. under normal prolactinemic conditions. Circulating levels of corticosterone (CORT) were used as a marker of HPA axis activation. Circulating CORT and PRL levels decreased in all postpartum females by 24 hours after delivery, but there was no difference between genotypes. Similarly, genotype had no effect on hypothalamic Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone (CRH) or choroid plexus PRL-R mRNA levels in postpartum females, indicating N/OFQ does not regulate the HPA axis under resting conditions. When postpartum animals were stressed, CORT levels increased, but there was no difference between genotypes. Hypothalamic CRH content was not affected by stress or genotype. Stress increased PRL mRNA levels, but this was also not different between the genotypes. These results indicate that N/OFQ is not necessary for activation of the HPA axis either under resting or stress conditions. Finally, studies using virgin female PRL wildtype and knockout mice indicate that PRL is not vital to the stress response. Taken together, these results demonstrate that N/OFQ does not regulate HPA axis activation under resting or stress conditions and that PRL does not play a critical role in the regulation of this axis during stress. While prolactinemic state influences the stress response, the response persists when PRL levels are normal, elevated or even absent.
Phyllis Callahan, PhD (Advisor)
James Janik, PhD (Committee Member)
Kathleen Killian, PhD (Committee Member)
David Pennock, PhD (Committee Member)
Emily Murphree, PhD (Committee Member)
93 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Nayar, S. (2013). NOCICEPTIN/ORPHANIN FQ (N/OFQ) REGULATION OF THE STRESS RESPONSE: INTERACTION BETWEEN PROLACTIN AND THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL (HPA) AXIS [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1382509698

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Nayar, Shweta. NOCICEPTIN/ORPHANIN FQ (N/OFQ) REGULATION OF THE STRESS RESPONSE: INTERACTION BETWEEN PROLACTIN AND THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL (HPA) AXIS. 2013. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1382509698.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Nayar, Shweta. "NOCICEPTIN/ORPHANIN FQ (N/OFQ) REGULATION OF THE STRESS RESPONSE: INTERACTION BETWEEN PROLACTIN AND THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL (HPA) AXIS." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1382509698

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)