Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress axis induces cellular oxidative stress

• Main Authors: Jereme G. Spiers, Hsiao-Jou Cortina eChen, Conrad eSernia, Nickolas A. Lavidis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-01-01
• Series: Frontiers in Neuroscience
• Subjects: Corticosterone; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis; stress.; redox status
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2014.00456/full

Glucocorticoids released from the adrenal gland in response to stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis induce activity in the cellular reduction-oxidation (redox) system. The redox system is a ubiquitous chemical mechanism allowing the transfer of electrons between donor/acceptors and target molecules during oxidative phosphorylation while simultaneously maintaining the overall cellular environment in a reduced state. The objective of this review is to present an overview of the current literature discussing the link between HPA axis-derived glucocorticoids and increased oxidative stress, particularly focussing on the redox changes observed in the hippocampus following glucocorticoid exposure.