Ongoing research suggests that stress has different effects on males and females. For example, under stress, women tend to seek support and men are more likely to withdraw. In a mouse study, adolescent female mice increased alcohol consumption after stress, whereas males showed a decrease in alcohol consumption. While some differences in behaviors have been identified, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these behavior differences are less well known. The goal of this research is to identify the contributing mechanisms in the brain. In response to a stressor, multiple structures in the brain are affected. Especially those involved in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) axis. Due to hypothalamic involvement in the HPA axis, this structure has been chosen as the region of investigation. In addition to the neurons that contribute to the HPA axis, the hypothalamus also contains microglia. Microglia and their associated mu-opiod receptors have also been shown to be responsive to stress. To investigate this question, 27 mice were tested: six control male, seven control female, eight chronic stressed males, and six chronic stressed females. Chronic stress will be induced using five stressors occuring in a random order, twice a day, for 14 consecutive days. After the stress period, behavior will be analyzed using an elevated plus maze, and then brains will be harvested for immunohistochemical analysis. Data for this research is still being collected, but current data suggests a trend between alcohol consumption and stress in that alcohol consumption increases after chronic variable stress, especially in male mice. Also, results from elevated plus maze suggest that the paradigm used to induce stress was effective. Final conclusions of this study can be made after brains are stained for MOR and microglia within the hypothalamus.

Sexual dimorphism of mu-opioid receptors on microglia in the hypothalamus of mice following chronic stress

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.