Corticosteroid actions in hippocampus require DNA binding of glucocorticoid receptor homodimers

• Published in: Nature neuroscience Vol. 3; no. 10; pp. 977 - 978
• Main Authors: Joëls, M, Karst, H, Karten, Y. J. G, Reichardt, H. M, de Kloet, E. R, Schütz, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.10.2000
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - agonists; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - metabolism; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - pharmacology; Animals; Binding Sites - drug effects; Binding Sites - physiology; Calcium Channels - drug effects; Calcium Channels - metabolism; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Corticosteroids; Culture Techniques; DNA - metabolism; DNA-ligand interactions; Hippocampus (Brain); Hippocampus - cytology; Hippocampus - drug effects; Hippocampus - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Mutant Strains; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed - physiology; Neurosciences; Physiological aspects; Pyramidal Cells - cytology; Pyramidal Cells - drug effects; Pyramidal Cells - metabolism; Receptors, Glucocorticoid - chemistry; Receptors, Glucocorticoid - drug effects; Receptors, Glucocorticoid - genetics; Serotonin - metabolism; Serotonin - pharmacology; Steroids; Stress, Physiological - pathology; Stress, Physiological - physiopathology; Transcription factors; Netherlands
• ISSN: 1097-6256; 1546-1726
• DOI: 10.1038/79910

Glucocorticoids are secreted from the adrenal gland in very high amounts after stress. In the brain, these stress hormones potently modulate ionic currents, monoaminergic transmission, synaptic plasticity and cellular viability, most notably in the hippocampus where corticosteroid receptors are highly enriched. Here we show that at least some of these actions require DNA binding of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) homodimers.