Antioxidant Treatment Induces Hyperactivation of the HPA Axis by Upregulating ACTH Receptor in the Adrenal and Downregulating Glucocorticoid Receptors in the Pituitary

Figure 2

NAC induces an upregulation of MC2R and StAR expression in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal of Wistar rats. NAC (150 mg/kg, oral route) was given daily for 18 consecutive days and the analysis was made by immunohistochemistry. The panels show representative photomicrographs of adrenal expression of MC2R in the (a) control and (b) NAC-treated rats and StAR in (c) control and (d) NAC-treated rats. The quantification of pixels associated with MC2R and StAR expression is shown in (e) and (f), respectively. Inserts represent negative controls. Yellow arrows indicate immunolabelling of MC2R (a, b) and StAR (c, d) in the zona fasciculata of adrenals. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM of 6 animals. This result is a representative of two independent assays. and .

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