Alterations in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis as a Response to Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Dark Agouti Rats of Both Sexes

• Published in: Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-08, Vol.14 (8), p.1020
• Main Authors: Milosevic, Ana, Milosevic, Katarina, Zivkovic, Anica, Lavrnja, Irena, Savic, Danijela, Bjelobaba, Ivana, Janjic, Marija M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACTH; Adrenal cortex; Adrenal glands; Adrenal Glands - metabolism; Adrenal Glands - pathology; Adrenocorticotropic hormone; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood; Androgens; Animal models; Animals; Brain; Central nervous system; Cholesterol; Corticosterone; Corticosterone - blood; Cytochrome; Dehydrogenases; Disease; EAE; Encephalomyelitis; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - metabolism; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - pathology; Endocrine system; Enzymes; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis; Experiments; Female; Females; Gender differences; Hormones; HPA axis; Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism; Hypothalamus; Inflammatory diseases; Male; Males; Morphology; Multiple sclerosis; Pituitary; Pituitary-Adrenal System - metabolism; Plasma; Progesterone; Progesterone - blood; Proteins; Rats; Scientific equipment and supplies industry; Sex Characteristics; Sex differences; Sexes; Star protein; Steroids
• ISSN: 2218-273X; 2218-273X
• DOI: 10.3390/biom14081020

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system, usually diagnosed during the reproductive period. Both MS and its commonly used animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), exhibit sex-specific features regarding disease progression and disturbances in the neuroendocrine and endocrine systems. This study investigates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response of male and female rats during EAE. At the onset of EAE, expression in the hypothalamus of both sexes is decreased, while males show reduced plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone levels. Adrenal gland activity is increased during EAE in both males and females, as evidenced by enlarged adrenal glands and increased StAR gene and protein expression. However, only male rats show increased serum and adrenal corticosterone levels, and an increased volume of the adrenal cortex. Adrenal 3β-HSD protein and progesterone levels are elevated in males only. Serum progesterone levels of male rats are also increased, although testicular progesterone levels are decreased during the disease, implying that the adrenal gland is the source of elevated serum progesterone levels in males. Our results demonstrate a sex difference in the response of the HPA axis at the adrenal level, with male rats showing a more pronounced induction during EAE.