Dissection of corticotroph transcriptome in a mouse model of glucocorticoid-induced suppression of the HPA axis

The effect on the transcriptome of dexamethasone (0.4mg/kg) treatment, and recovery 1 and 4 weeks following withdrawal was examined in corticotrophs FACS isolated from POMC-GFP mice. We show dexamethasone has persistent effects on the corticotroph transcriptome, some lasting up to 4 weeks. Male mice , n = 9 were expsoed to dexamethasone in drinking water for 4 weeks. Animals were collected after cessation of dexamethaonse treatment and 1 and 4 weeks later. A control group of mice received only standard drinking water. Corticotrophs were FACS isolated from pools of 3 pituitaries. Total RNA was extracted for RNA-seq.