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Inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuroprotective factors in the pathophysiology of PTSD in an animal model
Author(s) -
Wilson Brad,
McLaughlin Leslie,
Nair Anand R,
Dange Rahul,
Francis Joseph
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.691.5
Subject(s) - neuropeptide y receptor , oxidative stress , neurotrophic factors , medicine , pathophysiology , neuroprotection , brain derived neurotrophic factor , endocrinology , animal studies , hippocampus , inflammation , psychology , neuropeptide , receptor
Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop in response to a traumatic event. To date, no diagnostic biomarkers have been identified for PTSD. Recent research points toward physiological derangements that may be responsible. Studies indicate PTSD may be exacerbated by increased pro‐inflammatory cytokines (PICs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we hypothesized certain PICs and total ROS would be elevated in PTSD animals vs. controls, while brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neuropeptide‐Y (NPY) would be downregulated. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were used in this study. We induced PTSD via a predator exposure model, whereby rats were placed in a cage with a cat for 1 hour on days 1 and 11 of the 30‐day experiment. Rats also received psychosocial stress via daily cage cohort changes. Total ROS were elevated in the hippocampus, pre‐frontal cortex, and whole blood in PTSD animals. Messenger RNA levels for IL‐1β and NALP3 were elevated in PTSD animals in the same regions, while BDNF and NPY were lower. These data suggest PICs and ROS are upregulated in the brain and systemic circulation, while BDNF and NPY are downregulated, in an animal PTSD model. This provides evidence that traumatic exposure, independent of physical injury, causes physiological impairments that may influence behavior. All statistics were significant at p<0.05. Research support provided by LSU.