engleski

Gender difference in expression of estrogen and leptin receptor in Sprague Dawley rat adrenal gland after acute and chronic stress

Homeostasis is regulated by a complex endocrine processes engaging the hypothalamic–pituitary– adrenal axis (HPA) and sympathetic autonomic system (SAM). Stress can disturb homeostasis and occur either in acute or chronic form leading to a pathology. There is a correlation between stress and female steroid hormones, but the mechanism by which they exert its possible protective role under stress is not fully explored. Estrogen affects target cells by the nuclear receptors, estrogen receptor α (ER α) and β (ERβ) which function as transcription factors modulating expression of various genes. Leptin (Ob), a hormone responsible for maintaining body weight, is synthesized and secreted by adipose tissue. Leptin influences functioning of the HPA axis and the SAM system through the leptin receptor (Ob-R) in the hypothalamic nuclei. An increase in plasma concentrations of glucocorticoids during chronic stress response also influences an increase in plasma concentrations of leptin finally causing reduced feeding and body weight of tested animals. Ob-R, is present in the adrenal gland, the chief organ in the execution of the stress response and further analysis is necessary to determine its function.

Stress ; adrenal gland ; estrogen receptor ; leptin receptor

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