CORTICOTROPIN RELEASING FACTOR IN THE CENTRAL NUCLEUS OF THE AMYGDALA IN STRESS

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心，不一定是研究者所在机构。压力引起的精神病是影响社会的主要问题。从创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）、抑郁症和睡眠失调到成瘾的消失和复发，所有这些疾病都有压力作为病因。这些压力引起的疾病的机制知之甚少。促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（CRF）是脑内的一种分子，是机体的主要协调者。的适应性应激反应-包括内分泌，自主神经和行为反应。许多脑区与CRF介导的应激反应有关。杏仁核中央核（CeA）是CRF的主要下丘脑外来源，并且已知介导对恐惧和焦虑的行为、情绪和生理反应。本项目的目的是阐明促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（CRF）在中枢应激反应中的具体作用。学生将参与具体的实验，我们将：1。确定来自CeA的CRF是否参与介导压力诱导和焦虑样行为。将使用RNA干扰（RNAi）局部沉默成年大鼠CeA中双侧的CRF表达。然后，这些大鼠将经历一系列行为模式，以测量运动和焦虑样行为。这些测试包括旷场测试、高架十字迷宫、明暗箱和声学惊吓。2.确定是否敲低CRF表达从CeA使用RNAi减少措施的神经内分泌和自主激活响应压力。将采用无线电遥测技术监测心率和血压。还将测量皮质酮和促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）的循环水平

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Stress-induced psychopathologies are major problems affecting society. Disorders ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and sleep dysregulation to lapse and relapse in addiction all have stress as an etiological factor. The mechanisms underlying these stress-induced disorders are poorly understood. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is a molecule in brain that has been implicated as a primary coordinator of an organism?s adaptive stress responses - including endocrine, autonomic and behavioral responses. Numerous brain regions have been implicated in CRF mediated stress responses. The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is a major extrahypothalamic source of CRF and is known to mediate behavioral, emotional and physiological responses to fear and anxiety. The goals of this project are to elucidate the specific role of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) from the CeA in central responses to stress. Students will be involved in specific experiments in which we will: 1. Determine if CRF from the CeA is involved in mediating stress-induced and anxiety-like behaviors. RNA interference (RNAi) will be used to locally silence CRF expression bilaterally in the CeA of adult rats. The rats will then be put through a battery of behavioral paradigms to measure motor and anxiety-like behaviors. These tests include the open field test, elevated plus maze, light-dark box, and acoustic startle. 2. Determine if knocking down CRF expression from the CeA using RNAi decreases measures of neuroendocrine and autonomic activation in response to stress. Heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored employing radiotelemetry. Circulating levels of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) will also be measured