Glucocorticoid action in the hippocampus revealed by integrated genome-wide ChIP and RNA analysis [ChIP-seq]

Glucocorticoid hormones (GCs) play a critical role in physiological regulation and behavioural adaptation through mineralocorticoid (MR)- and glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated actions in the hippocampus. We conducted genome-wide MR and GR ChIP-Seq studies on rat hippocampus to elucidate MR- and GR-regulated genes under physiological conditions like acute stress and circadian variation. Rat hippocampus tissue was collected under early morning baseline conditions, at 30 min after the start of a 15-min forced swim session (acute stress), or under late afternoon baseline conditions. We identified many genomic loci in which MR and/or GR binds following acute stress or due the circadian rise in GC secretion.糖皮质激素（Glucocorticoid hormones, GCs）可通过盐皮质激素受体（mineralocorticoid receptor, MR）与糖皮质激素受体（glucocorticoid receptor, GR）介导的海马信号通路，在生理调控与行为适应中发挥关键作用。本研究针对大鼠海马体开展全基因组MR与GR染色质免疫共沉淀测序（ChIP-Seq）实验，以阐明急性应激与昼夜节律波动等生理状态下MR与GR调控的靶基因。我们分别在清晨基线状态、15分钟强迫游泳实验开始后30分钟（急性应激模型）以及傍晚基线状态下采集大鼠海马体组织，最终鉴定出大量在急性应激后或因糖皮质激素分泌昼夜升高而发生MR和/或GR结合的基因组位点。