Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Individual Differences in Response to Stress in a Previously Validated Animal Model of PTSD
Abstract
It is unclear why some individuals develop PTSD while others do not. Pre-existing biological differences among individuals may predispose some and not others to develop PTSD. We are seeking to identify biological differences that may predispose to PTSD using an existing rat model for PTSD where exposure to a predator stress scent (PSS) results in extreme long-term behavioral responses for 25% of animals (EBR) thought to be analogous to PTSD, while 25% of the animals show minimal behavioral responses (MBR). Our objectives for Experiment 1 are to identify genes showing altered expression in blood and brain areas implicated in PTSD that relate to individual differences in fear reactivity. Our goal in Experiment 2 is to examine the prophylactic effects of cortisol on the behavioral and gene expression effects of stress exposure. We have completed the behavioral work for Experiment 1 and successfully produced rats with the behavioral phenotypes (EBR and MBR) required for our gene expression aims. Brain and blood samples have been collected and the gene expression profiling has been completed on all brain samples and on a portion of the blood. Once gene expression analysis on the blood samples is complete, we will be able to conduct analyses examining the relationship between the changes in gene expression in the brain and blood in EBR, MBR and control rats. We will then repeat the study using a cortisol pretreatment condition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA554787
Entities
People
- Joseph Buxbaum
- Rachel Yehuda