crh

Stress is an aversive stimulus that disrupts the organism's biological balance. Formononetin, an isoflavone, has been implicated in anxiolytic responses. However, the intra-hypothalamic molecular mechanisms by which formononetin controls stress remain unknown.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of formononetin on hypothalamic Mch and Crh gene expression in a rat model of stress.

Male Wistar rats (200 - 220 g) were used. Thirty minutes before exposure to stress, the rats were injected with either saline or formononetin. Two hours after stress induction, hypothalamic samples were dissected and stored at -70°C until the measurement of Mch and Crh gene expression using real-time PCR.

Stress induction led to a significant increase in Mch and Crh mRNA levels. However, animals receiving formononetin showed a significant reduction in Mch and Crh mRNA levels compared to the stressed rats.

Formononetin may exert anxiolytic effects by down-regulating intra-hypothalamic CRH and MCH signaling pathways.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder and a leading cause of infertility in women. Studies suggest that naringenin may improve ovarian function; however, its molecular mechanism within the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis remains unclear.

This study investigated the role of naringenin on the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and nesfatin-1 genes in the hypothalamus of PCOS rats.

Twenty rats, each weighing 180 - 200 g, were divided into four groups (n = 5). Polycystic ovary syndrome was induced by administering estradiol valerate (2 mg per rat). The control and PCOS groups received saline, while the other two PCOS groups received intraperitoneal injections of naringenin at doses of 20 and 50 mg/kg for 14 days. Hypothalamic samples were collected to measure gene expression via real-time PCR.

The PCOS group showed a significant decrease in CRH and nesfatin-1 gene expression compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05). Naringenin treatment significantly increased the expression of CRH and nesfatin-1 genes in comparison to the PCOS group (P ≤ 0.05).

Naringenin appears to have therapeutic potential in improving ovarian function in PCOS. Its effects are mediated through up-regulation of hypothalamic neuropeptides upstream of GnRH neurons.

Chrysin is a natural flavonoid with several demonstrated neuro-pharmacological effects in brain areas related to anxiety. However, the intra-hypothalamic molecular mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic effects of chrysin remain unclear.

The current study revealed the effects of chrysin on hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone ( CRH ) and calcitonin gene-related peptide ( CGRP ) gene expression levels in a rat model of stress.

Thirty male Wistar rats weighing 200 ± 10 g were divided into six groups for this investigation. Acute restraint stress was induced in the animals for 2 hours. Intact or stress-induced rats received 20 or 40 µg of chrysin via the third cerebral ventricle, respectively. Open-field and forced swimming tests were performed to evaluate stress-related behaviors. Hypothalamic samples were then removed, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to measure relative gene expression.

The results showed that in the rats receiving chrysin, CRH and CGRP gene expression levels were significantly decreased compared to the stress group. Additionally, chrysin injection reduced anxiogenic behaviors.

Chrysin decreased the expression of hypothalamic CRH and CGRP genes in stressed rats.

 Preterm birth before 37th wk of gestation is called premature birth. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and CRH-binding protein (BP) act on various maternal and fetal tissues during pregnancy, such as the myometrium, which regulates the transition from the dormant phase of the uterus to the active phase. Studies have shown that mir-200c and mir-181a interact with CRH and CRH-BP.

 The present study aimed to investigate the expression of mir-200c, mir-181a, CRH, and CRH-BP in women with a history of preterm birth.

 In this case-control study, the gene expression level of mir-200c, mir-181a, CRH, and CRH-BP in placental tissue samples obtained from 48 women with a history of preterm labor was assessed in the Mojibian hospital of Yazd, Iran, from January to March, 2023. Differences between mir-200c, mir-181a CRH, and CRH-BP gene expressions among cases and controls were assessed. 

 The outcomes indicated that the expression of CRH increased with going on to the regular parturition time (p < 0.001). While outcomes indicated, CRH-BP decreased with going on to the regular parturition time (p < 0.001). In addition, the results showed that the expression of mir-181a increased and mir-200c decreased with approaching the normal delivery time (p < 0.001).

 In conclusion, the expressions of mir-200c, mir-181a, CRH, and CRH-BP were dissimilar in different weeks of gestation. It could be proposed to use mir-200c, mir-181a, CRH, and CRH-BP as biomarkers to weigh the exact delivery time, which could minimize the side effects of preterm labor for the mother and fetus.

Stress is defined as a physiological response to environmental conditions which could cause changes in the level of neuropeptides in the central nervous system. Trans- anethole is the secondary active compound with anti-stress and antioxidant properties. This research investigates the effects of trans-anethole on the hypothalamic CRH and CGRP gene expression in stress model rats.

Twenty male rats weighing 200-220 g were used. Animals were divided into four groups (n=5). The intact control or stress groups received saline. Two stress groups received trans-anethole (150 mg/kg or 250 mg/kg, IP). Thirty minutes following the injection of drugs, animals were subjected to acute immobilization stress for two hours. Then, behavioral tests were performed. The hypothalamic samples were removed. CRH and CGRP gene expression was measured using RT-PCR.

The mRNA levels of CGRP and CRH significantly increased in the stress group compared to those of the control. In rats receiving 150 mg/kg or 250 mg/kg of trans-anethole, the mRNA level of CGRP and CRH decreased significantly compared to that of the stress group. Also, injection of 150 mg/kg or 250 mg/kg of trans-anethole significantly improved the stressful behaviors compared to what happened in the stress group.

Trans-anethole may be considered as a potential anti-stress factor due to its inhibitory effects on the activity of hypothalamic stress pathways such as CRH and CGRP