AUTHOR=Busceti Carla Letizia , Bucci Domenico , Scioli Mariarosaria , Di Pietro Paola , Nicoletti Ferdinando , Puglisi-Allegra Stefano , Ferrucci Michela , Fornai Francesco 

TITLE=Chronic treatment with corticosterone increases the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing cells within specific nuclei of the brainstem reticular formation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroanatomy

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroanatomy/articles/10.3389/fnana.2022.976714

DOI=10.3389/fnana.2022.976714

ISSN=1662-5129

ABSTRACT=The Cushing’s syndrome is due to increased glucocorticoids levels in the body and it is characterized by a number of clinical alterations which concern both vegetative and behavioural functions. The anatomical correlates of these effects remain largely unknown. In fact, apart from peripheral effects induced by corticosteroids as counter-insular hormones, only a few reports are available concerning the neurobiology of glucocorticoids-induced vegetative and behavioural alterations. In the present study, C57 Black mice were administered daily a chronic treatment with corticosterone in drinking water. This treatment produces a significant and selective increase of TH-positive neurons within two nuclei placed in the lateral column of the brainstem reticular formation. These alterations significantly correlate with selective domains of the Cushing’s syndrome. Specifically, the increase of TH neurons within area postrema significantly correlates with development of glucose intolerance, which is in line with the selective control by area postrema of vagal neurons innervating pancreas. The other nucleus corresponds to the retro-rubral field, which is involved in behavioral activity. In detail, the retro-rubral field is likely to modulate anxiety and mood disorders, which frequently occurs following a chronic exposure to glucocorticoids. To our knowledge, this is the first study which provides the neuroanatomical basis underlying specific symptoms occurring in the Cushing’s syndrome.