Expression of mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in the human hippocampus

• Published in: Neuroscience letters 2000-08, Vol.290 (2), p.121-124
• Main Authors: Watzka, Matthias, Beyenburg, Stefan, Blümcke, Ingmar, Elger, Christian E, Bidlingmaier, Frank, Stoffel-Wagner, Birgit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Biochemistry and metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Central nervous system; Child; Corticosteroid receptors; Epilepsy; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucocorticoids - metabolism; Hippocampus; Hippocampus - cytology; Hippocampus - metabolism; Human; Humans; Male; Receptors, Glucocorticoid - genetics; Receptors, Mineralocorticoid - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sex difference; Sex Factors; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(00)01325-2

The genomic effects of corticosteroids in the brain are mediated through two receptors with a high affinity for cortisol: the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor (GR/MR). We used competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to quantify the amount of MR and GR mRNA in hippocampal tissue obtained from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. MR and GR mRNA were expressed at approximately the same levels as in tissues known for high glucocorticoid/mineralocorticoid sensitivity, i.e. liver or kidney. MR mRNA concentrations were significantly higher in the hippocampus of women (0.24±0.04 aU, arbitrary units; mean±SEM) than in men (0.14±0.01 aU, P