Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Experimental Biology
Department
Biological Sciences
ISSN
14779145
Volume
226
Issue
24
DOI
10.1242/JEB.246694
First Page
1
Last Page
5
Publication Date
12-18-2023
Abstract
Animals may limit the cost of stress responses during key life history stages such as breeding and molting by reducing tissue sensitivity to energy-mobilizing stress hormones (e.g. cortisol). We measured expression of genes encoding glucocorticoid receptor (GR, NR3C1), GR inhibitor (FKBP5) and cortisol-inactivating enzyme (HSD11B2) in blubber and muscle of northern elephant seals before and after stress axis stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) early and late in a fasting period associated with molting. ACTH elevated cortisol levels for >24 h and increased FKBP5 and HSD11B2 expression while downregulating NR3C1 expression in blubber and muscle, suggesting robust intracellular negative feedback in peripheral tissues. This feedback was maintained over prolonged fasting, despite differences in baseline cortisol and gene expression levels between early and late molt, suggesting that fasting-adapted animals use multiple tissue-specific, intracellular negative feedback mechanisms to modulate downstream impacts of acute stress responses during key life history stages.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Avalos, Jessica G.; Piotrowski, Elizabeth R.; Northey, Allison D.; Crocker, Daniel E.; and Khudyakov, Jane I., "Intracellular negative feedback mechanisms in blubber and muscle moderate acute stress responses in fasting seals" (2023). Pacific Faculty Work. 123.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/all-faculty/123
