Acute Stress Responsive RGS Proteins in the Mouse Brain

Abstract

Regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins play an important role in G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling and the activity of some GPCRs is modulated via RGS protein levels during stress response. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in RGS protein mRNA expressions in the mouse brain after 2h restraint stress. The mRNA level of 19 RGS proteins was analyzed using real-time PCR in six brain regions, which included the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, striatum, and pituitary gland, from control and stressed mouse. We found that the level of mRNA of each RGS varied according to brain region and that two to eight RGS proteins exhibited changes in mRNA levels in each brain region by restraint stress. It was also revealed that RGS4 protein amount was consistent with mRNA level, indicating RGS4 protein may have regulatory roles in the acute stress response.

The GABABreceptor associates with regulators of G-protein signaling 4 protein in the mouse prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus

“…1). The 2-h AIS paradigm is known to decrease RGS4 in the brain (4), and acute stress is known to increase corticosterone (22). A previous study also reports that RGS4 mRNA expression in the PVN is decreased by corticosterone (6).…”

“…Western blot analysis was performed as previously described (4). Briefly, protein-transferred membranes were blocked and incubated with primary antibodies (anti-RGS4, 1：500, SC-6204; anti-GABA B2 R, 1：100, SC-28792; anti-G αi-3 , 1：500, SC-262; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA).…”

“…During stress response, numerous GPCR-mediated signaling pathways are activated or inactivated in the brain (2, 3). We previously investigated acute stress-responsive RGS proteins using a 2-h acute immobilization stress (AIS) paradigm and found a reduction of RGS4 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hypothalamus (HY) of mice (4). RGS4 mRNA is relatively abundant in several brain regions within the stress response circuitry, such as the cerebral cortex, amygdala, thalamus, paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the HY, and locus coeruleus (LC) (5), and RGS4 mRNA levels in the PVN and LC are regulated in opposite directions by chronic unpredictable stress and corticosterone (6).…”

“…RGS4 regulates the signaling of several Gα i/o - and Gα q -coupled receptors including group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) (7), μ-opioid receptors (8), M1-4 muscarinic receptors (9), 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A/2A (serotonin) receptors (10), and α2A-adrenergic receptors (11). Moreover, some RGS4-related GPCRs are thought to be activated during acute stress, when RGS4 is reduced (4).…”

Domestication and early experiences in chickens: Behavior, stress and gene expression

“…While we currently do not know its function in the pituitary after stress, it possible that it is involved in the expression and translation of proteins that respond more slowly to stress. RGS1 encodes a protein involved in G protein signaling (Kim et al, 2010). A number of important receptors in the pituitary gland are G protein coupled receptors (Alexander et al, 2013), and further investigations should look into whether the RGS1 protein interacts with the functioning of these, and if this is affected by stress exposure.…”