Type II Corticosteroid Receptor-Like Immunoreactivity in the Rat Cerebellar Cortex: Differential Regulation by Corticosterone

Abstract

Type II corticosteroid receptor-like immunoreactivity (type Il-ir) was localized at the light- and electron-microscopic levels in the rat cerebellar cortex using BUGR2 monoclonal antibody. In intact rats, type II-ir was observed in the nuclei of basket, stellate, Golgi and Purkinje cells. After 1 week of adrenalectomy, type IIir was barely resolvable in basket, stellate, Golgi and most Purkinje cells. Vermal Purkinje cells showed intense nuclear and cytoplasmic type II-ir. After 4 weeks of adrenalectomy, type II-ir was markedly reduced in most vermal Purkinje cells, however a few in lobules 1-3 and 9 and 10 retained diffuse immunoreactivity. Acute treatment with corticosterone restored nuclear type II-ir to basket, stellate, Golgi and Purkinje cells in the cerebellar hemispheres, flocculi and paraflocculi. In the vermis most Purkinje cells showed nuclear type II-ir following corticosterone treatment. Diffuse type II-ir was, however, retained in a few Purkinje cells in vermal lobules 1-3, 9 and 10. The distribution of GABA-like immunoreactivity (GABA-ir) in the cerebellar cortex was not altered by adrenalectomy or acute corticosterone treatment. 30-60% of type II-ir Purkinje cells in intact rats were GABA-ir. In adrenalectomized and corticosterone-treated rats, a similar proportion of type II-ir Purkinje cells were GABA-ir. The differential regulation of neuronal type Il-ir in the cerebellum by corticosterone may account for some of the known effects of glucocorticoids on motor coordination.

Effect of different exercise programs on the psychological and cognitive functions of people with Parkinson's disease

“…Furthermore it has been suggested that acute or chronic stress might lead to earlier onset or worsening of the motor symptoms of PD (Smith, Castro, & Zigmond, 2002;Treves, Rabey & Korczyn, 1990). The high density of glucocorticoid receptors in some brain areas linked to the motor control, such as the cerebellum, basal ganglia and motor cortex, render these areas susceptible to the effects of stress (Ahima & Harlan, 1990;Ahima, Tagoe, & Harlan, 1991). In addition, it has been demonstrated that oxidative stress caused by immobilization stress selectively damages the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system (Kim, Choi, Chang, Kim, & Hwang, 2005), indicating that the dopaminergic system is particularly susceptible to the effects of stress (Izzo, Sanna, & Koob, 2005;Pani, Porcella, & Gessa, 2000).…”

Blockade of Mineralocorticoid and Glucocorticoid Receptors Reverses Stress-Induced Motor Impairments

“…Immunohistochemical studies have confirmed the presence of GR in the motor cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum [15,16], thus rendering these areas sensitive to glucocorticoid actions. By contrast, MR in the motor system appears to be restricted to cortical layers II, III and V [39].…”

“…Although in comparatively lower density than in limbic regions, MR and GR have also been detected in regions participating in motor control, including the motor cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and spinal cord [15,16,17,18,19], suggesting that corticosteroids are important modulators of motor function. Indeed, systemic administration of CORT or stress disturbs skilled and non-skilled movement at both acute and long-term intervals [19,20].…”

Stress and Inflammation: A Detrimental Combination in the Development of Neurodegenerative Disease.

“…Nevertheless, an increasing number of data suggest that they could be an important risk factor in the pathogenesis. GR density is not equal in all brain structures, and interestingly is higher in regions such as the motor cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum, which are involved in motor control [25,26] . This makes these areas more susceptible to the effects of stress in both human [27] and rat [28,29] .…”