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

Figure 4

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

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