Mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors in sciatic nerve function and regeneration

Mineralocorticoid receptor knockout in Schwann cells alters myelin sheath thickness

“…The study of glucocorticoid hormone actions, putting aside their anti-inflammatory properties, is a blind spot in the scientific literature on the peripheral nervous system, especially concerning Schwann cells (Groyer et al 2006;Girard et al 2010). Considering the crucial importance of glucocorticoid hormones in regulating the functions of most tissues in mammals, the investigation of their role in the PNS is of great interest.…”

“…Glucocorticoid actions are mediated by two highly homologous members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, the mineralocorticoid receptor MR, coded by the Nr3c2 gene also named Mr (Viengchareun et al 2007) and the glucocorticoid receptor GR (Oakley & Cidlowski 2013) coded by Nr3c1 gene, also named Gr. Both receptor mRNA were previously reported to be expressed in rodent sciatic nerves and in SC-derived cell lines (Groyer et al 2006;Girard et al 2010). MR presents a high affinity for glucocorticoids and is also able to bind specifically the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone.…”

“…In other MR-expressing tissues such as heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, nervous system, 11HSD2 expression is absent or very low indicating that, at least in a nonpathological situation, MR should probably be considered as a high affinity receptor for GC (Le Menuet & Lombès 2014). However, it was reported that in some experimental conditions, the prerequisites for aldosterone signaling, such as 11HSD2 expression are present in SC (Groyer et al 2006;Girard et al 2010). GR affinity for GC is around 10 times lower than that of MR.…”

Protective effects of mineralocorticoid receptor blockade against neuropathy in experimental diabetic rats

“…Treatment with an MR blocker reduced ROS production and apoptosis in the ischaemic striatum and caused a small but significant reduction in the area of the brain damaged by ischaemia. Girard et al [29] recently reported that MR and glucocorticoid receptor are expressed in the sciatic nerve. We detected MR mRNA and protein in peripheral nervous tissue at levels almost equal to those found in the kidney and found that both the MR blocker eplerenone and the ARB candesartan improved electrophysiological and histopathological parameters in this model of diabetic neuropathy, independent of changes in either blood pressure or blood glucose.…”