食管癌及癌旁组织中EGR-1、c-fos、cyclin D1的表达

目的：研究ＥＧＲ－１、ｃ－ｆｏｓ、ｃｙｃｌｉｎＤ１３种基因ｍＲＮＡ及其相应蛋白在人食管癌癌变过程中的表达水平及其相关性,并探讨其与食管癌的发生、发展及生物学行为的关系。方法：原位杂交法检测４７例食管鳞状细胞癌及其癌旁、上切缘中３种基因的ｍＲＮＡ、免疫组化ＳＡＢＣ法检测蛋白表达水平。结果：３种基因原位杂交、免疫 化阳性表达产物均分别定位于胞浆及胞核中,ＥＧＲ－１ｍＲＮＡ、ｃｆｏｓｍＲＮＡ、ｃｙｃｌｉ     

实验性运动病大鼠脑细胞c—fos基因表达

目的：探讨运动病的发生机理。方法：取ＳＤ大鼠１６只分为２组，其中１组按Ｃｒａｍｐｔｏｎ的方法进行旋转刺激诱导运动病；而非旋转组作为对照。用原位杂交和免疫组化方法、图像分析技术对旋转刺激组大鼠及对照组大鼠大脑、脑干和小脑中ｃ－ｆｏｓｍＲＮＡ、Ｆｏｓ蛋白含量变化进行定位、定量研究。结果：旋转刺激后３种组织中ｃ－ｆｏｓｍＲＮＡ、Ｆｏｓ蛋白的含量均有显著增加。结论：推测应激反应基因ｃ－ｆｏｓ的表达参与运动病的发生和发展     

缺血致大鼠肾c-fosmRNA和FOS表达时程的研究

缺血致大鼠肾ｃ－ｆｏｓｍＲＮＡ和ＦＯＳ表达时程的研究程向明刘平钟庆晨张留保张爱羚郭丹周其锦（南京海军医学高等专科学校）近年研究表明，原癌基因ｃ－ｆｏｓ的表达产物ＦＯＳ蛋白是一种很有意义的第三信使或转录因子，它与ｃ－ｊｕｎ家族表达的核磷蛋白所形成的同源...     

束缚应激大鼠下丘脑内一氧化氮合酶、c-fos的组化研究和图象分析

束缚应激大鼠下丘脑内一氧化氮合酶、ｃ－ｆｏｓ的组化研究和图象分析宋春杰齐建国章为（华西医科大学组胚教研室）本实验应用ＮＡＤＰＨ－ｄ组化法和ｃ－ｆｏｓ免疫组化技术（ＡＢＣ）法相结合的方法，对束缚应激大鼠丘脑内一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）和ｃ－ｆｏｓ的分布以及...     

造血生长因子促进RV介导LacZ-NeoR基因在人骨髓造血细胞中转染的机制

目的：本文探索了不同组合的造血生长因子ＳＣＦ、ＩＬ３及ＩＬ６对逆转录病毒（ＲＶ）介导的ＬａｃＺ－ＮｅｏＲ双标志基因转染人骨髓造血细胞转染效率、表达水平的影响及其相关机理。方法：采用ＲＶ转染人骨髓非粘附造血细胞（ＮＡＢＭＣ）及经ＳＣＦ、ＩＬ３及ＩＬ６不同组合预激４８ｈ后的ＮＡＢＭＣ。经荧光素二－β－Ｄ－半乳糖呋喃苷脂（ＦＤＧ）标记的半乳糖苷酶、Ｇ４１８ＲＣＦＵ－ＧＭ及ＰＣＲ／Ｓｏｕｒｔｈｅｒｎ－ｂｌｏｔ检测ＮｅｏＲ和ＬａｃＺ基因的表达。结果：早期造血生长因子（ＨＧＦｓ）的预激明显改善了ＲＶ介导的ＬａｃＺ－ＮｅｏＲ基因在人骨髓造血细胞中的转染效率与表达水平,ＳＣＦ＋ＩＬ３＋ＩＬ６＞ＳＣＦ＋ＩＬ３＞ＩＬ３＋ＩＬ６＞ＳＣＦ＋ＩＬ６。氚标记脱氧胸苷（３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ）自杀及５－溴脱氧尿苷－碘化丙啶（ＢｒｄＵ－ＰＩ）双标流式细胞仪（ＦＣＭ）检测显示,ＨＧＦｓ预激后人骨髓造血细胞及ＣＦＵ－ＧＭ的Ｓ期比例显著提高。结论：ＳＣＦ＋ＩＬ３＋ＩＬ６的联合预激可显著改善ＲＶ介导的外源基因在人骨髓造血细胞中的转染效率与表达水平,这可能与ＨＧＦｓ预激后明显提高人骨髓造血细胞及ＣＦＵ－ＧＭ的Ｓ期比例密切相关     

细胞内Retinoid结合蛋白mRNA水平在生精过程中的周期性变化

目的 研究大鼠睾丸细胞内视黄醇结合蛋白－Ｉ（ＣＲＢＰ－Ｉ）及细胞内视黄酸结合蛋白－Ⅱ（ＣＲＡＢＰ－Ⅱ）ｍＲＮＡ水平与曲细精管生精上皮周期的相关关系。方法 分别以地高辛标记的大鼠ＣＲＢＰ－Ｉ及ＣＲＡＢＰ－ⅡｃＤＮＡ探针在ＳＤ大鼠睾丸冰冻切片上进行原位杂交,应用激光密度扫描系统对阳性信号进行定量。结果 ＣＲＢＰ－Ｉ及ＣＲＡＢＰ－Ⅱ ｍＲＮＡ在支持细胞（ｓｅｒｔｏｌｉ ｃｅｌｌ,ＳＣ）中表达。ＣＲＢＰ－     

白细胞介素10基因转移抑制肾小球系膜细胞诱生炎症细胞因子

目的：通过建立白细胞介素１０（ＩＬ－１０）的重组逆转录病毒载体基因转移系统,观察ＩＬ－１０对脂多糖（ＬＰＳ）诱导的大鼠肾小球系膜细胞（ｇｌｏｍｅｒｕｌａｒｍｅｓｅｎｇｉａｌｃｅｌ,ＧＭＣ）中细胞因子的产生及其基因表达的影响。方法：通过构建的重组逆转录病毒载体ｐＬＸ（ＩＬ－１０）ＳＮ将外源基因ＩＬ－１０转移至大鼠ＧＭＣ：（１）应用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）,反转录聚合酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）和ＥＬＩＳＡ检测ＩＬ－１０基因的整合和表达;（２）以ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ观察ＩＬ－１０基因转移对ＬＰＳ诱导的ＧＭＣ肿瘤坏死因子－α（ＴＮＦ－α）的ｍＲＮＡ表达的影响,以ＥＬＩＳＡ测定白细胞介素－１β（ＩＬ－１β）和ＴＮＦ－α的蛋白质表达。结果：外源性ＩＬ－１０基因已整合到靶细胞染色体ＤＮＡ并有效地表达,它能抑制ＬＰＳ诱生ＧＭＣ过度产生ＩＬ－１β,ＴＮＦ－α。结论：外源性ＩＬ－１０基因可以转移到ＧＭＣ并稳定表达,它能抑制ＧＭＣ炎症效应中细胞因子的产生及其基因表达。     

人可溶性IL-6R基因在COS7细胞中的表达及活性分析

目的在ＣＯＳ７细胞中表达具有生物学功能的人可溶性ＩＬ－６Ｒ（ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ），作为研究ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ结构与功能关系的基础。方法首先利用ＰＣＲ技术扩增出人可溶性ＩＬ－６Ｒ（ｈｓＩＬ－６Ｒ）编码基因片段，并重组入克隆载体ｐＡＬＴＥＲ－１。通过基因序列分析确定了目的基因的核苷酸序列，并进一步构建了由ＳＶ４０晚期启动子和ＨＣＭＶ早期启动子控制的表达质粒ｐＳＶＬ６Ｒ和ｐＣＭＶ６Ｒ。用脂质体介导的方法将表达质粒转染ＣＯＳ７细胞，并分别在ｍＲＮＡ水平（斑点杂交）和蛋白水平（ＥＬＩＳＡ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ－ｂｌｏｔ）检测ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ基因在ＣＯＳ７细胞中的表达。在７ＴＤ１，ＬＴ１２两种ＩＬ－６反应细胞系上检测转染细胞上清（含ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ）的生物学活性。结果在ｍＲＮＡ水平和蛋白水平分别检测到ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ基因在ＣＯＳ７细胞中的表达，表达产物分子量约为５００００。表达产物在７ＴＤ１，ＬＴ１２细胞系上检测到明显的生物学活性。结论天然ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ基因在ＣＯＳ７细胞中的成功表达为进一步制备ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ突变体及其结构与功能关系的研究奠定了基础     

TLSF_（JM）对PMA诱导Jurkat细胞IL－2Rα链基因表达的抑制作用

本文应用原位杂交和双ＭｃＡｂ夹心ＥＬＩＳＡ方法，探讨了来自ＪＭＴ细胞白血病细胞系产生的抑制因子（ＴＬＳＦ_（ＪＭ））对ＰＭＡ诱导的Ｊｕｒｋａｔ细胞ＩＬ－２Ｒα链基因表达的影响。结果表明：ＴＬＳＦ_（ＪＭ）可明显抑制ＰＭＡ诱导的Ｊｕｒｋａｔ细胞ＩＬ－２Ｒα链ｍＲＮＡ转录，并降低膜表面ＩＬ－２Ｒα链的表达和细胞培养上清中可溶性ＩＬ－２Ｒ（ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ）水平。     

哮喘豚鼠IL-5、IL-3、GM-CSF mRNA表达及雷公藤内酯醇的影响

目的研究ＩＬ－５、ＩＬ－３、ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ在哮喘发病中的作用及雷公藤的干预。方法将实验豚鼠随机分为：①哮喘组（ｎ＝８）：用卵蛋白雾化吸入诱导哮喘模型；②处理组（ｎ＝８）：用雷公藤内酯醇腹腔注射处理哮喘模型；③正常对照组（ｎ＝８）。制备ＩＬ－５、ＩＬ－３和ＧＭ－ＣＳＦｃＤＮＡ探针，用斑点印迹杂交法检测以上三组豚鼠支气管肺组织ＩＬ－５、ＩＬ－３和ＧＭ－ＣＳＦｍＲＮＡ的表达。结果哮喘豚鼠支气管肺组织ＩＬ－５、ＩＬ－３和ＧＭ－ＣＳＦｍＲＮＡ表达显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５～０．００１）；雷公藤处理组ＩＬ－５、ＩＬ－３和ＧＭ－ＣＳＦｍＲＮＡ表达低于哮喘组（Ｐ＜０．０５～０．００１），与对照组无显著差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论哮喘豚鼠肺组织中有明显的ＩＬ－５、ＩＬ－３和ＧＭ－ＣＳＦｍＲＮＡ表达增加。雷公藤内酯醇能抑制体内ＩＬ－５、ＩＬ－３和ＧＭ－ＣＳＦｍＲＮＡ的表达，可能在哮喘抗炎中具有潜在的临床价值。     

Changes in anxiety-related behaviors and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity in mice lacking the 5-HT-3A receptor

The serotonin-3 (5-HT-3A) receptor has been localized in limbic and brainstem structures that regulate anxiety-related behavior and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity, but its role in regulating anxiety-related behaviors is equivocal, and evidence for its role in regulating HPA activity is limited. Therefore, we used 5-HT-3A receptor knockout (KO) mice to further study these issues. Behavior in the elevated plus maze, open field, light-dark box and after Pavlovian fear conditioning was examined in addition to HPA activity under basal and acute stress conditions. Compared to age-matched adult male wild-type (WT) controls, adult male KO mice exhibited increased distance traveled in the open arms of the elevated plus maze, consistent with decreased measures of anxiety. There were no differences between the two genotypes in exploratory behavior in the open field or light-dark test. KO mice displayed enhanced fear conditioning indexed by fear-induced freezing behavior. KO mice displayed lower adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) responses to restraint or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, lower vasopressin mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and higher corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA in the central amygdala were observed in KO compared to WT mice. Therefore, deletion of the 5-HT-3A receptor revealed an important role for this receptor in regulating HPA responses to acute stress and a potential interaction between the 5-HT-3A receptor and CRH in the amygdala. Together, these data suggest that the 5-HT-3A receptor does not have a unitary role in the regulation of anxiety- and fear-related behaviors but has a potentially substantial role in the regulation of HPA activity.     

Inescapable but not escapable stress leads to increased struggling behavior and basolateral amygdala c-fos gene expression in response to subsequent novel stress challenge

Control over an aversive experience can greatly impact the organism's response to subsequent stressors. We compared the effects of escapable (ES) and yoked inescapable (IS) electric tail shocks on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis hormonal (corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)), neural (c-fos mRNA) and behavioral (struggling) response to subsequent restraint. We found that although the HPA axis response during restraint of both previously stressed groups were higher than stress-naïve rats and not different from each other, lack of control over the tailshock experience led to an increase in restraint-induced struggling behavior of the IS rats compared to both stress-naïve and ES rats. Additionally, c-fos expression in the basolateral amygdala was increased selectively in the IS group, and relative c-fos mRNA expression in the basolateral amygdala positively correlated with struggling behavior. Restraint-induced c-fos expression in the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain area critical for mediating some of the differential neurochemical and behavioral effects of ES and IS, was surprisingly similar in both ES and IS groups, lower than that of stress-naïve rats, and did not correlate with struggling behavior. Our findings indicate that basolateral amygdala activity may be connected with the differential effects of ES and IS on subsequent behavioral responses to restraint, without contributing to the concurrent HPA axis hormone response.     

单一连续应激大鼠内侧前额皮质细胞外信号调节激酶磷酸化增高

目的 探讨单一连续应激(SPS)大鼠内侧前额皮质(mPFC)磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶(pERK1/2)和c-fos表达的变化.方法将45只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组、应激组和干预组.应激组和干预组大鼠接受SPS,干预组大鼠接受SPS前30min前额皮质局部注射ERK抑制剂2′-氨基-3′-甲氧黄酮(PD9805...     

Gestational hypoxia alone or combined with restraint sensitizes the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and induces anxiety-like behavior in adult male rat offspring

We have reported that hypoxia affects the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and behavior by driving the expression of central corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and its receptors in adult mammals, and this effect is modulated by other factors. Here, we address whether or not intermittent hypoxia (IH) or restraint (R) or a combination of both (IH+R) during gestation would result in differential alteration of the HPA axis and behavior of the adult male offspring. Gravid rats were exposed to IH in a hypobaric chamber (10.8% O₂, altitude of 5 km), R, or both, daily for 4 h for 21 days. Control parameters were set at sea level (20.9% O₂). All the stressors significantly and differentially increased CRH and corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRHR1) expression but decreased corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 2 (CRHR2) in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), enhanced CRHR1 mRNA and CRHR2 mRNA expression in the anterior pituitary, and increased plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) levels and adrenal weight in adult male offspring aged 120 days. Furthermore, norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) levels significantly increased in the locus coeruleus (LC), while the percentage of entries into the open arms of the elevated-plus maze test (EPM) markedly declined. In all the above effects, the combination-induced effect was stronger than each stressor alone. Confocal imaging showed a rich colocalization of CRHR1 with CRH or urocortin I (Ucn I), and CRHR2 with CRH or urocortin III (Ucn III) in the PVN, and CRHR1 with CRH in the LC in EPM-tested groups. In conclusion, IH or R alone or both in combination during gestation sensitize the HPA axis and induce anxiety-like behavior of the adult male offspring, and the combined effects are significantly great than IH or R alone. The CRH-NE neural circuit between the PVN and LC through CRH receptor driving might partly be involved in the effects. The differential colocalization of CRH with CRHR1 might be the neural basis of these effects.     

An investigation of the effects of maternal separation and novelty on central mechanisms mediating pituitary-adrenal activity in infant guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

In mammalian species in which the young exhibit a strong filial attachment (e.g., monkeys, guinea pigs), numerous studies have shown that even brief separation from the attachment figure potently elevates circulating concentrations of glucocorticoids and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). However, effects of separation on central regulation of this stress response are not known. Therefore, we investigated central mechanisms mediating pituitary-adrenal activation during maternal separation and novelty exposure in guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) pups. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) mRNA expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and plasma cortisol and ACTH levels, were elevated only during separation in a novel environment. C-Fos activity was elevated in the medial amygdala (MeA) and reduced in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) during novelty exposure, regardless of separation. On the other hand, c-Fos activity was elevated in the PVN during separation, regardless of novelty exposure. These results demonstrate independent and combined effects of separation and novelty in regions of the guinea pig CNS that regulate pituitary-adrenal activity. Moreover, they suggest that a pathway from MeA to BNST to PVN mediates responses to novelty in the guinea pig pup, as in the adult rat, though inputs from other cell populations appear required to fully account for the HPA activity observed here.     

Periodic maternal deprivation induces gender-dependent alterations in behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to emotional stress in adult rats.

There is evidence that stressful events during the neonatal "stress hyporesponsive period" may influence both emotional behavior and the maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in rats. We tested whether periodic maternal deprivation (180 min daily on postnatal days 3-10, PMD) caused chronic changes in emotional behavior and HPA axis activity in either male or female adult rats, or both. In addition, HPA secretory responses to human/rat corticotropin-releasing factor (CRH, 50 ng/kg i.v.) were determined in the adult males. In the elevated plus-maze test, adult (4-5 months of age) PMD-treated animals of both sexes displayed increased anxiety-related behavior compared to control rats. This was indicated by a reduction in the number of entries (male: 70% reduction, p < 0.01; female: 31% reduction, p < 0.01) and amount of time spent on the open arms (male: 86% reduction, p < 0.01; female: 40% reduction, NS). Neuroendocrine parameters were also altered in PMD-treated rats in a gender-dependent manner. Whereas basal plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticosterone levels did not differ significantly between PMD and control groups of either sex, the ACTH response to elevated plus-maze exposure, a predominantly emotional stressor, was higher in male (p < 0.01), but not female, PMD animals than in the respective controls. In contrast, PMD had no effect on behavioral (duration of struggling) or HPA axis responses to forced swimming (90 s, 19 degrees C), a complex and predominantly physical stressor, in either male or female rats. In response to CRH stimulation, PMD-treated males did not show differences in the ACTH secretion compared to controls, indicating alterations in HPA axis regulation at a suprapituitary level. Thus, PMD caused long-term changes in the emotional behavior of adult rats of both sexes, although to a differing degree in males and females, whereas it appeared to cause predominantly alterations in the HPA axis response in males, depending on the characteristics of the stressor used.     

Acute nicotine activates c-fos and activity-regulated cytoskeletal associated protein mRNA expression in limbic brain areas involved in the central stress-response in rat pups during a period of hypo-responsiveness to stress

In adult rats, acute nicotine, the major psychoactive ingredient in tobacco smoke, stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), resulting in activation of brain areas involved in stress and anxiety-linked behavior. However, in rat pups the first two postnatal weeks are characterized by hypo-responsiveness to stress, also called the 'stress non-responsive period' (SNRP). Therefore, we wanted to address the question if acute nicotine stimulates areas involved in the stress response during SNRP. To determine neuronal activation, the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and activity-regulated cytoskeletal associated protein (Arc) was studied in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), bed nucleus stria terminalis (BST) and paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN), which are areas involved in the neuroendocrine and central stress response. Rat pups received nicotine tartrate (2 mg/kg) or saline by i.p. injection at postnatal days (P) 5, 7 and 10 and their brains were removed after 30 min. We used semi-quantitative radioactive in situ hybridization with gene specific antisense cRNA probes in coronal sections. In control pups, c-fos expression was low in most brain regions, but robust Arc hybridization was found in several areas including cingulate cortex, hippocampus and caudate. Acute nicotine resulted in significant induction of c-fos expression in the PVN and CeA at P5, P7 and P10, and in the BST at P7 and P10. Acute nicotine significantly induced expression of Arc in CeA at P5, P7 and P10, and in the BST at P10. In conclusion, acute nicotine age dependently activated different brain areas of the HPA axis during the SNRP. After P7, the response was more pronounced and included the BST, suggesting differential maturation of the HPA axis in response to nicotine.     

The effects of acupuncture stimulation at PC6 (Neiguan) on chronic mild stress-induced biochemical and behavioral responses

In the present study, the effects of acupuncture on the behavioral and physiological responses induced by chronic mild stress (CMS) were evaluated. Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to a variety of chronic unpredictable, mild stressors for 8 weeks. The effects of acupuncture on stress-induced anxiety and anhedonia were investigated using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and sucrose intake test. In addition, c-fos expression, as an early neuronal marker in the brain was also examined utilizing Fos-like immunohistochemistry (FLI). CMS rats significantly reduced the consumption of sucrose intake and latency in the open arms of the EPM, and gained body weight more slowly, compared to non-stressed normal rats. Exposure to CMS also significantly increased FLI in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. Acupuncture stimulation at point PC6 on the pericardium channels (3 min), but not at other point (TE5), restored stress-induced decrease in the latency in the open arms and significantly attenuated FLI in the PVN produced by CMS. Acupuncture stimulation also tended to restore stress-induced decrease in the sucrose intake. The present results demonstrated that acupuncture was effective in restoring CMS-related biochemical and behavioral impairments such as anxiety and anhedonia and that acupuncture point was more effective than non-acupuncture point. These results suggest that acupuncture has a therapeutic effect on chronic stress-related diseases such as depression and anxiety.     

听源性惊厥易感大鼠室旁核神经元c—fos表达的研究

目的为下丘脑室旁核参与惊厥应答提供形态学资料。方法：以听源性忭厥易大鼠为动物模型，用免疫组织化学ＡＢＣ法显示下丘脑室旁核神经元即早基因ｃ－ｆｏｓ的表达。     

Novel role of adrenergic neurons in the brain stem in mediating the hypothalamic-pituitary axis hyperactivity caused by prenatal alcohol exposure

Exposure to alcohol during embryonic development leads to changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis such that adult offspring release more adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) than controls when exposed to stress. In the present work, we tested the hypothesis that changes in the activity of the catecholaminergic system modulate, at least in part, this upregulation of the HPA axis. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to alcohol 6 h daily during gestation days 7-18 using the vapor chamber model, which generated mean blood alcohol levels of 188.6+/-10 mg/dl. All experiments were performed on 2 to 3-month-old offspring. We first measured the ACTH response to i.c.v. injection of adrenergic receptor agonists. In rats exposed to footshocks, we then investigated the activity of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) as well as indexes of catecholamine ir, namely tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunopositive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), TH immunopositive neurons in the locus coeruleus, and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) immunopositive neurons in the brain stem. While adult females exposed to alcohol during fetal development (FAE) displayed the expected enhanced ACTH response to stress, there were no significant differences in response to adrenergic receptor agonists or in shock-induced CRF/TH ir and neuronal activity, as determined by c-fos colocalization. In contrast, FAE female offspring exposed to footshocks showed a significant increase in the activity of adrenergic neurons in the C1 region of the brain stem, a population of cells that project to the PVN. Collectively, these results suggest that while FAE-induced hyperactivity of the HPA axis is not accompanied by significant changes in PVN CRF or TH-ir neurons, it is characterized by an upregulation of C1 adrenergic neurons of the brain stem. This novel finding should lead to the functional characterization of this brain region in the FAE model.