Mineralocorticoid receptors brain

Chao, H., Choo, P. and McEwen, B. Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor mRNA expression in rat brain. Neuroendocrinology 50 365-371,1989. 

GC exert their regulatory effects on the HPA system via two types of corticosteroid receptors the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) (Reul and De Kloet 1985). GRs occur everywhere in the brain but are most abundant in hypothalamic CRH neurons and pituitary corticotropes. MRs, in contrast, are highly expressed in the hippocampus and, at lower expression levels, in hypothalamic sites involved in the regulation of salt appetite and autonomic outflow. The MR binds GC with a tenfold higher affinity than does the GR (Reul and De Kloet 1985). These findings on corticosteroid receptor diversity led to the working hypothesis that the tonic influences of corticosterone... 

Angiotensin II has a variety of effects. By constricting blood vessels it raises blood pressure, and by stimulating thirst centers in the brain it increases blood volume. Both angiotensins II and III also act on the adrenal gland to promote the synthesis and release of aldosterone. Most of the effects of angiotension II are mediated by 359-residue seven-helix G-protein linked receptors which activate phospholipase C.p q qr Like other steroid hormones aldosterone acts,via mineralocorticoid receptors, to control transcription of a certain set of proteins. The end effect is to increase the transport of Na+ across the renal tubules and back into the blood. Thus, aldosterone acts to decrease the loss of Na+ from the body. It promotes retention of water and raises... 

Fig. 7.6 Computer simulations of circadian cortisol release, (a) Activation curves of the positive (MR) and negative (GR) feedback loops of cortisol to diverse brain areas (see Fig. 6.5) via mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR), respectively. In combination (MR-GR), there is...

Steroid Hormones and Neurosteroids. Steroids (qv) can affect neuroendocrine function, stress responses, and behavioral sexual dimorphism (78,79) (see Steroids). Mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid, androgen, estrogen, and progesterone receptors are localized in the brain and spinal cord. In addition to genomic actions, the neurosteroid can act more acutely to modulate the actions of other receptors or ion channels (80). Pregnenolone [145-13-17, ( ) dehydroepiandosterone [53-43-0] C H2 02 (319) are excitatory neurosteroids found in rat brain, independent of adrenal... 

Although MR also binds glucocorticoids, its main ligand in classical mineralocorticoid target tissues such as kidney and colon is aldosterone ( d 1.3 nM). This can be granted to the ability of 11 (3-hydioxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (11 (3-HSD II) to convert active cortisol into its inactive metabolite cortisone in these tissues. Since aldosterone is no substrate for this enzyme it can readily bind to MR, leading to exclusive occupation of the receptor by aldosterone. In contrast, no such mechanism exists in brain and presumably... 

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