Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant gene expression in the rat hypothalamus by osmotic stimulation

Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) is Me of the chemokines and has chemotaxity for neutrophils. Recently, we found the presence of stress-sensitive CINC expression in the hypothalamic nuclei such as the paraventricular nucleus. Since CINC was predominantly co-localized with vasopressin in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), we investigated the effect of hyperosmotic challenge on CINC mRNA in the hypothalamus. We found that CINC mRNA expression in the hypothalamus was augmented within 30 min following osmotic stimulation and immediately returned to the basal level, The suckling, which is a stimulation to oxytocin neurons in the SON, las no effect on CINC mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. This is the first evidence that the chemokine in the brain is activated by osmotic stimulation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.