Posters
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Undergraduate
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Undergraduate
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Faculty
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Neuroscience
Presentation Type
Poster
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Biomedical Science
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background/ Purpose: Stress is a natural response to challenging situations which is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis of an individual organism. Research has indicated that overactivation of this system could lead to disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD (Azarte-Mejia et al., 2024). Studies of epigenetic research have indicated that Immediate Early Genes (IEGs) such as c-Fos and Egr3 are crucial in stress responses, regulating genes involved in synaptic plasticity and adaptation (Brosens et al., 2024). Therefore, understanding their roles in stress responses can inform therapeutic approaches for stress-related conditions.
Method: The current study examined Egr3 and c-Fos expression in the medial hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cerebral nuclei in the rodent brain. Using brain sections obtained from the Allen Institute's mouse brain atlas, we quantified and compared gene expression of both genes in the brain of the mouse (Mus musculus).
Results: There were differences between Egr3 and c-Fos expression patterns which may suggest that they have distinct roles in stress-induced neuronal activity. For instance, the lateral hypothalamic area shows a higher c-Fos expression compared to Egr3, indicating a significant role of c-Fos in this region. In contrast, the caudo-putamen region exhibits a higher count of Egr3 cells compared to c-Fos, suggesting a prominent role of Egr3 in this area. Similarly, in the hippocampus, the CA3 pyramidal layer has significantly higher Egr3 expression compared to c-Fos, highlighting the impact of Egr3 in this region.
Conclusion: These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress responses and highlight potential neuroanatomical targets for therapeutic interventions in stress-related disorders. Future studies will focus on behavioral responses to social encounters as a model to study these genes in a psychosocial stress condition.
Recommended Citation
Reyna Gonzalez, Ana P.; Perez, Ismael; and Gil, Mario, "Investigating the Role of Egr3 and c-Fos in Stress-Induced Behavioral Responses in the Rodent Brain" (2025). Research Symposium. 8.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2025/posters/8
Included in
Investigating the Role of Egr3 and c-Fos in Stress-Induced Behavioral Responses in the Rodent Brain
Background/ Purpose: Stress is a natural response to challenging situations which is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis of an individual organism. Research has indicated that overactivation of this system could lead to disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD (Azarte-Mejia et al., 2024). Studies of epigenetic research have indicated that Immediate Early Genes (IEGs) such as c-Fos and Egr3 are crucial in stress responses, regulating genes involved in synaptic plasticity and adaptation (Brosens et al., 2024). Therefore, understanding their roles in stress responses can inform therapeutic approaches for stress-related conditions.
Method: The current study examined Egr3 and c-Fos expression in the medial hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cerebral nuclei in the rodent brain. Using brain sections obtained from the Allen Institute's mouse brain atlas, we quantified and compared gene expression of both genes in the brain of the mouse (Mus musculus).
Results: There were differences between Egr3 and c-Fos expression patterns which may suggest that they have distinct roles in stress-induced neuronal activity. For instance, the lateral hypothalamic area shows a higher c-Fos expression compared to Egr3, indicating a significant role of c-Fos in this region. In contrast, the caudo-putamen region exhibits a higher count of Egr3 cells compared to c-Fos, suggesting a prominent role of Egr3 in this area. Similarly, in the hippocampus, the CA3 pyramidal layer has significantly higher Egr3 expression compared to c-Fos, highlighting the impact of Egr3 in this region.
Conclusion: These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress responses and highlight potential neuroanatomical targets for therapeutic interventions in stress-related disorders. Future studies will focus on behavioral responses to social encounters as a model to study these genes in a psychosocial stress condition.
