"Research identifies gene that changes the brain’s response to stress"

The Rockefeller University » Newswire: "Research identifies gene that changes the brain’s response to stress"

Flu-Induced Stress Response Necessary for Resistance to Secondary Illness

Flu-induced stress response is critical for resistance to secondary infection

ScienceDaily (2010-02-19) -- A new study reveals how infection with the influenza virus impacts the way that the immune system responds to subsequent infections. The research provides a new understanding of the physiological and pathological consequences of the flu. ... > read full article

Hyperammonemia, Subordination, Hypoxia Influence Stress Hormone CRF Production in Fish

"Comparison of the plasma cortisol levels in response to the diverse treatments showed that subordination was the most severe stressor followed by hyperammonemia, isolation, and hypoxia. In the POA, with the exception of subordination that had no effect on UI expression, all stressors resulted in increase in CRF and UI mRNA levels."

Comment: Basically, this says that in fish these stressors increase stress hormones. Other organisms are often used as experimental models to test psychological theories. These same hormonal pathways exist in humans and for this reason, one can suggest these stressors may elicit similar responses and these kinds of experiments are often performed on animals to analyze reactions before humans or where experimentation on humans would be "unethical" or "too difficult".


Bernier, N. J., Alderman, S. L., and Bristow, E. N. (2008). Heads or tails? stressor-specific expression of corticotropin-releasing factor and urotensin i in the preoptic area and caudal neurosecretory system of rainbow trout. The Journal of endocrinology, 196(3):637-648. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6611532
Kawabata, K., Kawai, Y., and Terao, J. (2009). Suppressive effect of quercetin on acute stress-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response in wistar rats. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/4498837
Ortega, V. A., Renner, K. J., and Bernier, N. J. (2005). Appetite-suppressing effects of ammonia exposure in rainbow trout associated with regional and temporal activation of brain monoaminergic and crf systems. J Exp Biol, 208(10):1855-1866. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6594636
Land, B. B., Bruchas, M. R., Lemos, J. C., Xu, M., Melief, E. J., and Chavkin, C. (2008). The dysphoric component of stress is encoded by activation of the dynorphin kappa-opioid system. J. Neurosci., 28(2):407-414. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/2215488
Walsh, P. J., Veauvy, C. M., McDonald, M. D., Pamenter, M. E., Buck, L. T., and Wilkie, M. P. (2007). Piscine insights into comparisons of anoxia tolerance, ammonia toxicity, stroke and hepatic encephalopathy. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology, 147(2):332-343. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6611593

Medial prefrontal cortex damage affects physiological and psychological stress responses differently in men and women

Medial prefrontal cortex damage affects physiological and psychological stress responses differently in men and women: "URL: Medial prefrontal cortex damage affects physiological and psychological stress responses differently in men and women

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Depression Leads to Elevation in Inflammatory Protein

Depression linked to inflammatory protein

Gene–environment interactions predict cortisol responses after acute stress: Implications for the etiology of depression

Gene–environment interactions predict cortisol responses after acute stress: Implications for the etiology of depression