Different effects of prenatal stress on ERK2/CREB/Bcl-2 expression in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex of adult offspring rats

Abstract

It has become increasingly evident that prenatal stress and its psychological and physiological concomitants are associated with the pathophysiology of mood disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the prenatal stress-induced offspring's anxiety disorders remain unknown. We recently reported that prenatal stress enhanced anxiety-like behavior in adult offspring rat, and involved N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits, including NR1 and NR2A. In the present research, using the same prenatal stress model, we measured the ERK2/CREB/Bcl-2 mRNA levels by real-time PCR. Our findings indicated that prenatal stress decreased ERK2 and CREB mRNA levels in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex and Bcl-2 mRNA levels in the hippocampus of offspring rat. The results showed that the abnormal ERK2, CREB, and Bcl-2 mRNA levels may be involved in the anxiety-like behavior of adult rats with prenatal stress.

Transcriptional Signatures of Cognitive Impairment in Rat Exposed to Prenatal Stress

“…It is known that several intracellular systems associated with the activation of PKA, including the cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), play an important role in learning and memory [40][41][42], which suggests that the inability to activate such pathways may contribute to the cognitive impairment observed in PNS rats. This observation is in agreement with an impaired expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) signalling following exposure to PNS [43][44][45].…”

Neuroprotective effects of a new triterpenoid from edible mushroom on oxidative stress and apoptosis through the BDNF/TrkB/ERK/CREB and Nrf2 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo

“…26,27 The binding of BDNF and its tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) can modulate the ERK signaling pathway that activates downstream target CREB to trigger the expression of BDNF and Bcl-2. 28,29 First, we performed a western blot experiment to observe the impacts of H 2 O 2 on the expression of BDNF, TrkB, ERK and CREB phosphorylation. The cells were induced with H 2 O 2 for 2, 4, 8, and 12 h. Interestingly, we discovered that H 2 O 2 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of TrkB, ERK, and CREB after 8 h, and the expression of BDNF was remarkably impeded after 12 h (Fig.…”

“…28,29 First, we performed a western blot experiment to observe the impacts of H 2 O 2 on the expression of BDNF, TrkB, ERK and CREB phosphorylation. The cells were induced with H 2 O 2 for 2, 4, 8, and 12 h. Interestingly, we discovered that H 2 O 2 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of TrkB, ERK, and CREB after 8 h, and the expression of BDNF was remarkably impeded after 12 h (…”

Beyond good and evil: A putative continuum-sorting hypothesis for the functional role of proBDNF/BDNF-propeptide/mBDNF in antidepressant treatment

“…Stress also affects brain expression of other molecules attached to BDNF signaling. In such cases, prenatally stressed rat offspring present decreased CREB and ERK2 mRNA expression in both hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in 3-month olds (Zhu et al, 2016).…”