Vitamin A regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis status in LOU/C rats.

N. Marissal-Arvy, R. Hamiani, E. Richard, M.-P. Moisan, V. Pallet
Journal of Endocrinology. 2013-07-11; 219(1): 21-27
DOI: 10.1530/joe-13-0062

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1. J Endocrinol. 2013 Sep 6;219(1):21-7. doi: 10.1530/JOE-13-0062. Print 2013 Oct.

Vitamin A regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis status in LOU/C rats.

Marissal-Arvy N(1), Hamiani R, Richard E, Moisan MP, Pallet V.

Author information:
(1)INRA, Nutrition and Integrative Neurobiology, UMR1286, Université de Bordeaux
2, 146, rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France.

The aim of this study was to explore the involvement of retinoids in the
hypoactivity and hyporeactivity to stress of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
(HPA) axis in LOU/C rats. We measured the effects of vitamin A deficiency
administered or not with retinoic acid (RA) on plasma corticosterone in standard
conditions and in response to restraint stress and on hypothalamic and
hippocampal expression of corticosteroid receptors, corticotropin-releasing
hormone and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) in LOU/C rats.
Interestingly, under control conditions, we measured a higher plasma
concentration of retinol in LOU/C than in Wistar rats, which could contribute to
the lower basal activity of the HPA axis in LOU/C rats. Vitamin A deficiency
induced an increased HPA axis activity in LOU/C rats, normalized by RA
administration. Compared with LOU/C control rats, vitamin A-deficient rats showed
a delayed and heightened corticosterone response to restraint stress. The
expression of corticosteroid receptors was strongly decreased by vitamin A
deficiency in the hippocampus, which could contribute to a less efficient
feedback by corticosterone on HPA axis tone. The expression of 11β-HSD1 was
increased by vitamin A deficiency in the hypothalamus (+62.5%) as in the
hippocampus (+104.7%), which could lead to a higher production of corticosterone
locally and contribute to alteration of the hippocampus. RA supplementation
treatment restored corticosterone concentrations and 11β-HSD1 expression to
control levels. The high vitamin A status of LOU/C rats could contribute to their
low HPA axis activity/reactivity and to a protective effect against
11β-HSD1-mediated deleterious action on cognitive performances during ageing.

DOI: 10.1530/JOE-13-0062
PMID: 23847298 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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