| First Author | Chen A | Year | 2006 |
| Journal | J Neurosci | Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 20 | Pages | 5500-10 |
| PubMed ID | 16707802 | Mgi Jnum | J:108744 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3624615 | Doi | 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3955-05.2006 |
| Citation | Chen A, et al. (2006) Urocortin 2-deficient mice exhibit gender-specific alterations in circadian hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and depressive-like behavior. J Neurosci 26(20):5500-10 |
| abstractText | Gender differences in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and the prevalence of mood disorders are well documented. Urocortin 2, a recently identified member of the corticotropin-releasing factor family, is expressed in discrete neuroendocrine and stress-related nuclei of the rodent CNS. To determine the physiological role of urocortin 2, mice null for urocortin 2 were generated and HPA axis activity, ingestive, and stress-related behaviors and alterations in expression levels of CRF-related ligands and receptors were examined. Here we report that female, but not male, mice lacking urocortin 2 exhibit a significant increase in the basal daily rhythms of ACTH and corticosterone and a significant decrease in fluid intake and depressive-like behavior. The differential phenotype of urocortin 2 deficiency in female and male mice may imply a role for urocortin 2 in these gender differences. |
