Figure 5.

QRT-PCR analysis of the regulation of NTS PPG and TH transcription by CVS exposure in ADX-Cort-replaced rats. a, Diurnal rhythms of plasma corticosterone was determined. ADX-Cort rats showed normal plasma corticosterone circadian as indicated by no difference for nadir and peak of plasma corticosterone between sham-ADX and ADX-Cort rats. b, The basal plasma corticosterone was elevated by CVS exposure only in sham-ADX CVS rats. The prolonged stress challenge did not affect the basal plasma corticosterone in ADX-Cort rats. c, d, CVS exposure enhanced PPG mRNA degradation and PPG hnRNA expression in sham-ADX rats. There was no difference for PPG mRNA and hnRNA expression between unstressed and stressed ADX-Cort rats. e, f, Expression of TH mRNA and hnRNA were elevated by the 2 weeks CVS of exposure in both sham-ADX and ADX-Cort rats. *p < 0.01 versus control (Con).