Relationship between stress and circulating levels of S100B protein

It has been proposed that S100B can be a marker for several pathological conditions including brain traumas, blood-brain barrier disruption, and ischemia. Because the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis is activated in these conditions, we investigated the role of glucocorticoids in the effects of stress on serum S100B. Restraint stress increased S100B levels in control and in adrenalectomized but not in corticosterone-injected rats. Adrenalectomy did not alter basal S100B. These results indicate a glucocorticoid-independent relationship between stress and S100B.