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de Sousa EB, Heymbeeck JAA, Feitosa LM, Xavier AGO, Dos Santos Campos K, do Socorro Dos Santos Rodrigues L, de Freitas LM, do Carmo Silva RX, Ikeda SR, de Nazaré Dos Santos Silva S, Rocha SP, do Nascimento WL, da Silva Moraes ER, Herculano AM, Maximino C, Pereira A, Lima-Maximino M. Activation of NOS-cGMP pathways promotes stress-induced sensitization of behavioral responses in zebrafish. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 243:173816. [PMID: 38971472 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule involved in plasticity across levels and systems. The role of NOergic pathways in stress-induced sensitization (SIS) of behavioral responses, in which a particular stressor triggers a state of hyper-responsiveness to other stressors after an incubation period, was assessed in adult zebrafish. In this model, adult zebrafish acutely exposed to a fear-inducing conspecific alarm substance (CAS) and left undisturbed for an incubation period show increased anxiety-like behavior 24 h after exposure. CAS increased forebrain glutamate immediately after stress and 30 min after stress, an effect that was accompanied by increased nitrite levels immediately after stress, 30 min after stress, 90 min after stress, and 24 h after stress. CAS also increased nitrite levels in the head kidney, where cortisol is produced in zebrafish. CAS-elicited nitrite responses in the forebrain 90 min (but not 30 min) after stress were prevented by a NOS-2 blocker. Blocking NOS-1 30 min after stress prevents SIS; blocking NOS-2 90 min after stress also prevents stress-induced sensitization, as does blocking calcium-activated potassium channels in this latter time window. Stress-induced sensitization is also prevented by blocking guanylate cyclase activation in both time windows, and cGMP-dependent channel activation in the second time window. These results suggest that different NO-related pathways converge at different time windows of the incubation period to induce stress-induced sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveline Bezerra de Sousa
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia e Neuropatologia, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Estudos em Saúde e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - João Alphonse Apóstolo Heymbeeck
- Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia e Biofísica, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências e Comportamento, Núcleo de Teoria e Pesquisa do Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Miranda Feitosa
- Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia e Biofísica, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências e Comportamento, Núcleo de Teoria e Pesquisa do Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Kimberly Dos Santos Campos
- Departamento de Morfologia e Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Larissa Mota de Freitas
- Departamento de Morfologia e Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil
| | - Rhayra Xavier do Carmo Silva
- Departamento de Morfologia e Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil
| | - Saulo Rivera Ikeda
- Departamento de Morfologia e Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Sueslene Prado Rocha
- Departamento de Morfologia e Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil
| | - Wilker Leite do Nascimento
- Departamento de Morfologia e Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Anderson Manoel Herculano
- Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Caio Maximino
- Laboratório de Neurociências e Comportamento "Frederico Guilherme Graeff", Instituto de Estudos em Saúde e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará (Unifesspa), Marabá, PA, Brazil.
| | - Antonio Pereira
- Laboratório de Processamento de Sinais, Instituto de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Monica Lima-Maximino
- Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia e Biofísica, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil; Departamento de Morfologia e Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Campus VIII, Marabá, PA, Brazil
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Sanchís-Ollé M, Belda X, Gagliano H, Visa J, Nadal R, Armario A. Animal models of PTSD: Comparison of the neuroendocrine and behavioral sequelae of immobilization and a modified single prolonged stress procedure that includes immobilization. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 160:195-203. [PMID: 36842332 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
A single exposure to some stressors results in long-lasting consequences reminiscent of those found in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but results are very often controversial. Although there is no consensus regarding the best animal models of PTSD, the single prolonged stress (SPS) model, consisting of sequential exposure within the same day to various stressors (typically restraint, forced swim, and ether), has gained acceptance. However, results, particularly those related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, are inconsistent and there is no evidence that SPS is clearly distinct from models using a single severe stressor. In the present study, we compared in male rats the behavioral and neuroendocrine (HPA) consequences of exposure to immobilization on boards (IMO) with a SPS-like model (SPSi) in which IMO and isoflurane were substituted for restraint and ether, respectively. Both procedures caused a similar impact on food intake and body weight as well as on sensitization of the HPA response to a novel environment (hole-board) on the following day. Reduction of activity/exploration in the hole-board was also similar with both stressors, although the impact of sudden noise was higher in SPSi than IMO. Neither IMO nor SPSi significantly affected contextual fear conditioning acquisition, although a similar trend for impaired fear extinction was observed compared to controls. Exposure to additional stressors in the SPSi did not interfere with homotypic adaptation of the HPA axis to IMO. Thus, only modest neuroendocrine and behavioral differences were observed between IMO and SPSi and more studies comparing putative PTSD models are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Sanchís-Ollé
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Visa
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Unitat Mixta Translacional, Spain; Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Unitat Mixta Translacional, Spain; Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.
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3
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Belda X, Fuentes S, Labad J, Nadal R, Armario A. Acute exposure of rats to a severe stressor alters the circadian pattern of corticosterone and sensitizes to a novel stressor: Relationship to pre-stress individual differences in resting corticosterone levels. Horm Behav 2020; 126:104865. [PMID: 32991887 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic events have been proposed to be associated with hypo-activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but data in animal models exposed to severe stressors are controversial and have important methodological concerns. Individual differences in resting or stress levels of corticosterone might explain some of the inconsistencies. We then studied this issue in male rats exposed to 2 h immobilization on boards (IMO), a severe stressor. Thirty-six rats were blood sampled under resting conditions four times a day on three non-consecutive days. Then, they were assigned to control (n = 14) or IMO (n = 22) to study the HPA response to IMO, the stressor-induced alterations in the circadian pattern of corticosterone (CPCORT), and the behavioral and HPA responsiveness to an open-field. Individual differences in pre-IMO resting corticosterone were inconsistent, but averaging data markedly improved consistency. The CPCORT was markedly altered on day 1 post-IMO (higher trough and lower peak levels), less altered on day 3 and apparently normal on day 7. Importantly, when rats were classified in low and high resting corticosterone groups (LCORT and HCORT, respectively), on the basis of the area under the curve (AUC) of the averaged pre-IMO data, AUC differences between LCORT and HCORT groups were maintained in controls but disappeared in IMO rats during the post-IMO week. Open-field hypo-activity and corticosterone sensitization were similar in LCORT and HCORT groups nine days after IMO. A single IMO exposure causes long-lasting HPA alterations, some of them dependent on pre-stress resting corticosterone levels, with no evidence for post-IMO resting corticosterone hypo-activity.
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MESH Headings
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/blood
- Animals
- Circadian Rhythm/physiology
- Conditioning, Classical/physiology
- Corticosterone/blood
- Corticosterone/metabolism
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/metabolism
- Individuality
- Male
- Pituitary-Adrenal System/metabolism
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Rest/physiology
- Rest/psychology
- Restraint, Physical/physiology
- Restraint, Physical/psychology
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/blood
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/etiology
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/metabolism
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology
- Stress, Psychological/blood
- Stress, Psychological/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Fuentes
- Institut de Neurociències, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Labad
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, I3PT, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spain.
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Khazen T, Hatoum OA, Ferreira G, Maroun M. Acute exposure to a high-fat diet in juvenile male rats disrupts hippocampal-dependent memory and plasticity through glucocorticoids. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12270. [PMID: 31439894 PMCID: PMC6706405 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48800-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The limbic circuit is still undergoing maturation during juvenility and adolescence, explaining why environmental and metabolic challenges during these developmental periods can have specific adverse effects on cognitive functions. We have previously shown that long-term exposure (8-12 weeks) to high-fat diet (HFD) during adolescence (from weaning to adulthood), but not at adulthood, was associated with altered amygdala and hippocampal functions. Moreover, these HFD effects were normalized by treatment with glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonists. Here, we examined in male rats whether acute exposure (7-9 days) to HFD during juvenility [from postnatal day (PND) 21 to PND 28-30] or adulthood (from PND 60 to PND 67-69) is sufficient to affect hippocampal functions and whether it is also dependent on GRs activation. Juvenile HFD abolished both hippocampal synaptic plasticity, assessed through in vivo long-term potentiation (LTP) in CA1, and long-term hippocampal-dependent memory, using object location memory (OLM). No effect of HFD was observed in short-term OLM suggesting a specific effect on consolidation process. In contrast, adult HFD enhanced in vivo LTP and OLM. Systemic application of GR antagonist alleviated HFD-induced LTP and OLM impairments in juveniles. These results suggest that acute exposure to HFD during juvenility is sufficient to impair hippocampal functions in a GR-dependent manner. Interestingly, this effect depends on the developmental period studied as acute exposure to HFD at adulthood did not impair, but rather enhanced, hippocampal functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tala Khazen
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Ossama A Hatoum
- Department of Surgery B- HaEmek Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Technion: Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Guillaume Ferreira
- INRA, Nutrition and Integrative Neurobiology, UMR1286, Bordeaux, France.,University of Bordeaux, Nutrition and Integrative Neurobiology, UMR 1286, Bordeaux, France
| | - Mouna Maroun
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel.
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Lim PH, Shi G, Wang T, Jenz ST, Mulligan MK, Redei EE, Chen H. Genetic Model to Study the Co-Morbid Phenotypes of Increased Alcohol Intake and Prior Stress-Induced Enhanced Fear Memory. Front Genet 2018; 9:566. [PMID: 30538720 PMCID: PMC6277590 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex illness, frequently co-morbid with depression, caused by both genetics, and the environment. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), which also co-occurs with depression, is often co-morbid with PTSD. To date, very few genes have been identified for PTSD and even less for PTSD comorbidity with AUD, likely because of the phenotypic heterogeneity seen in humans, combined with each gene playing a relatively small role in disease predisposition. In the current study, we investigated whether a genetic model of depression-like behavior, further developed from the depression model Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat, is a suitable vehicle to uncover the genetics of co-morbidity between PTSD and AUD. The by-now inbred WKY More Immobile (WMI) and the WKY Less Immobile (WLI) rats were generated from the WKY via bidirectional selective breeding using the forced swim test, a measure of despair-like behavior, as the functional selector. The colonies of the WMIs that show despair-like behavior and the control strain showing less or no despair-like behavior, the WLI, are maintained with strict inbreeding over 40 generations to date. WMIs of both sexes intrinsically self-administer more alcohol than WLIs. Alcohol self-administration is increased in the WMIs without sucrose fading, water deprivation or any prior stress, mimicking the increased voluntary alcohol-consumption of subjects with AUD. Prior Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning (SEFL) is a model of PTSD. WMI males, but not females, show increased SEFL after acute restraint stress in the context-dependent fear conditioning paradigm, a sexually dimorphic pattern similar to human data. Plasma corticosterone differences between stressed and not-stressed WLI and WMI male and female animals immediately prior to fear conditioning predict SEFL results. These data demonstrate that the WMI male and its genetically close, but behaviorally divergent control the WLI male, would be suitable for investigating the underlying genetic basis of comorbidity between SEFL and alcohol self-administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Henry Lim
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Guang Shi
- Liaoning Provincial People's Hospital, Liaoning Sheng, China
| | - Tengfei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Sophia T Jenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Megan K Mulligan
- Department of Genetics Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Eva E Redei
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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Harris RBS. Repeated restraint stress lowers the threshold for response to third ventricle CRF administration. Horm Behav 2017; 89:64-68. [PMID: 28017597 PMCID: PMC5942218 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Rats and mice exposed to repeated stress or a single severe stress exhibit a sustained increase in energetic, endocrine, and behavioral response to subsequent novel mild stress. This study tested whether the hyper-responsiveness was due to a lowered threshold of response to corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) or an exaggerated response to a standard dose of CRF. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 3h of restraint on each of 3 consecutive days (RRS) or were non-restrained controls. RRS caused a temporary hypophagia but a sustained reduction in body weight. Eight days after the end of restraint, rats received increasing third ventricle doses of CRF (0-3.0μg). The lowest dose of CRF (0.25μg) increased corticosterone release in RRS, but not control rats. Higher doses caused the same stimulation of corticosterone in the two groups of rats. Fifteen days after the end of restraint, rats were food deprived during the light period and received increasing third ventricle doses of CRF at the start of the dark period. The lowest dose of CRF inhibited food intake during the first hour following infusion in RRS, but not control rats. All other doses of CRF inhibited food intake to the same degree in both RRS and control rats. The lowered threshold of response to central CRF is consistent with the chronic hyper-responsiveness to CRF and mild stress in RRS rats during the post-restraint period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth B S Harris
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
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7
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Critical features of acute stress-induced cross-sensitization identified through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis output. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31244. [PMID: 27511270 PMCID: PMC4980629 DOI: 10.1038/srep31244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress-induced sensitization represents a process whereby prior exposure to severe stressors leaves animals or humans in a hyper-responsive state to further stressors. Indeed, this phenomenon is assumed to be the basis of certain stress-associated pathologies, including post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis. One biological system particularly prone to sensitization is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the prototypic stress system. It is well established that under certain conditions, prior exposure of animals to acute and chronic (triggering) stressors enhances HPA responses to novel (heterotypic) stressors on subsequent days (e.g. raised plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels). However, such changes remain somewhat controversial and thus, the present study aimed to identify the critical characteristics of the triggering and challenging stressors that affect acute stress-induced HPA cross-sensitization in adult rats. We found that HPA cross-sensitization is markedly influenced by the intensity of the triggering stressor, whereas the length of exposure mainly affects its persistence. Importantly, HPA sensitization is more evident with mild than strong challenging stressors, and it may remain unnoticed if exposure to the challenging stressor is prolonged beyond 15 min. We speculate that heterotypic HPA sensitization might have developed to optimize biologically adaptive responses to further brief stressors.
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8
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Souza Queiroz J, Marín Blasco I, Gagliano H, Daviu N, Gómez Román A, Belda X, Carrasco J, Rocha MC, Palermo Neto J, Armario A. Chlorella vulgaris reduces the impact of stress on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain c-fos expression. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 65:1-8. [PMID: 26685709 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Revised: 11/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Predominantly emotional stressors activate a wide range of brain areas, as revealed by the expression of immediate early genes, such as c-fos. Chlorella vulgaris (CV) is considered a biological response modifier, as demonstrated by its protective activities against infections, tumors and stress. We evaluated the effect of acute pretreatment with CV on the peripheral and central responses to forced swimming stress in adult male rats. Pretreatment with CV produced a significant reduction of stress-related hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activation, demonstrated by decreased corticotrophin releasing factor gene expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and lower ACTH response. Hyperglycemia induced by the stressor was similarly reduced. This attenuated neuroendocrine response to stress occurred in parallel with a diminished c-fos expression in most evaluated areas, including the PVN. The data presented in this study reinforce the usefulness of CV to diminish the impact of stressors, by reducing the HPA response. Although our results suggest a central effect of CV, further studies are necessary to understand the precise mechanisms underpinning this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Souza Queiroz
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Neuroimmunomodulation research group, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ignacio Marín Blasco
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Nuria Daviu
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Almudena Gómez Román
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Javier Carrasco
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Michelle C Rocha
- Laboratory of Farmacogenomics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Goiás-UFG-Campus Jatai, Jataí-GO, Brazil
| | - João Palermo Neto
- Neuroimmunomodulation research group, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències and 'Red de Trastornos Adictivos' (RTA, Institute of Health Carlos III), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
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Sawamura T, Klengel T, Armario A, Jovanovic T, Norrholm SD, Ressler KJ, Andero R. Dexamethasone Treatment Leads to Enhanced Fear Extinction and Dynamic Fkbp5 Regulation in Amygdala. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:832-46. [PMID: 26174596 PMCID: PMC4707829 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is both a prevalent and debilitating trauma-related disorder associated with dysregulated fear learning at the core of many of its signs and symptoms. Improvements in the currently available psychological and pharmacological treatments are needed in order to improve PTSD treatment outcomes and to prevent symptom relapse. In the present study, we used a putative animal model of PTSD that included presentation of immobilization stress (IMO) followed by fear conditioning (FC) a week later. We then investigated the acute effects of GR receptor activation on the extinction (EXT) of conditioned freezing, using dexamethasone administered systemically which is known to result in suppression of the HPA axis. In our previous work, IMO followed by tone-shock-mediated FC was associated with impaired fear EXT. In this study, we administered dexamethasone 4 h before EXT training and then examined EXT retention (RET) 24 h later to determine whether dexamethasone suppression rescued EXT deficits. Dexamethasone treatment produced dose-dependent enhancement of both EXT and RET. Dexamethasone was also associated with reduced amygdala Fkbp5 mRNA expression following EXT and after RET. Moreover, DNA methylation of the Fkbp5 gene occurred in a dose-dependent and time course-dependent manner within the amygdala. Additionally, we found dynamic changes in epigenetic regulation, including Dnmt and Tet gene pathways, as a function of both fear EXT and dexamethasone suppression of the HPA axis. Together, these data suggest that dexamethasone may serve to enhance EXT by altering Fkbp5-mediated glucocorticoid sensitivity via epigenetic regulation of Fkbp5 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takehito Sawamura
- Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA,Self Defense Forces Yokosuka Hospital, Yokosuka City, Japan
| | - Torsten Klengel
- Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociènces, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Seth D Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA,Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Raül Andero
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA,Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA, Tel: +617 855 4216, Fax: 617 855 3479, E-mail:
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10
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Rabasa C, Gagliano H, Pastor-Ciurana J, Fuentes S, Belda X, Nadal R, Armario A. Adaptation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to daily repeated stress does not follow the rules of habituation: A new perspective. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 56:35-49. [PMID: 26112129 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Repeated exposure to a wide range of stressors differing in nature and intensity results in a reduced response of prototypical stress markers (i.e. plasma levels of ACTH and adrenaline) after an acute challenge with the same (homotypic) stressor. This reduction has been considered to be a habituation-like phenomenon. However, direct experimental evidence for this assumption is scarce. In the present work we demonstrate in adult male rats that adaptation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to repeated stress does not follow some of the critical rules of habituation. Briefly, adaptation was stronger and faster with more severe stressors, maximally observed even with a single exposure to severe stressors, extremely long-lasting, negatively related to the interval between the exposures and positively related to the length of daily exposure. We offer a new theoretical view to explain adaptation to daily repeated stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Rabasa
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Pastor-Ciurana
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Fuentes
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain; Institut de Neurociències and Unitat Psicobiologia (Facultat de Psicologia), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain; Institut de Neurociències and Unitat Psicobiologia (Facultat de Psicologia), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS-Trastornos Adictivos), Madrid, Spain.
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11
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Belda X, Fuentes S, Daviu N, Nadal R, Armario A. Stress-induced sensitization: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and beyond. Stress 2015; 18:269-79. [PMID: 26300109 DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2015.1067678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to certain acute and chronic stressors results in an immediate behavioral and physiological response to the situation followed by a period of days when cross-sensitization to further novel stressors is observed. Cross-sensitization affects to different behavioral and physiological systems, more particularly to the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. It appears that the nature of the initial (triggering) stressor plays a major role, HPA cross-sensitization being more widely observed with systemic or high-intensity emotional stressors. Less important appears to be the nature of the novel (challenging) stressor, although HPA cross-sensitization is better observed with short duration (5-15 min) challenging stressors. In some studies with acute immune stressors, HPA sensitization appears to develop over time (incubation), but most results indicate a strong initial sensitization that progressively declines over the days. Sensitization can affect other physiological system (i.e. plasma catecholamines, brain monoamines), but it is not a general phenomenon. When studied concurrently, behavioral sensitization appears to persist longer than that of the HPA axis, a finding of interest regarding long-term consequences of traumatic stress. In many cases, behavioral and physiological consequences of prior stress can only be observed following imposition of a new stressor, suggesting long-term latent effects of the initial exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Belda
- a Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
- b Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
- c Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain , and
| | - Silvia Fuentes
- a Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
- c Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain , and
- d Unitat de Psicobiologia (Facultat de Psicologia), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Nuria Daviu
- a Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
- b Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
- c Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain , and
| | - Roser Nadal
- a Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
- c Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain , and
- d Unitat de Psicobiologia (Facultat de Psicologia), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- a Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
- b Unitat de Fisiologia Animal (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain
- c Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III , Bellaterra , Barcelona , Spain , and
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12
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Gagliano H, Nadal R, Armario A. Sex differences in the long-lasting effects of a single exposure to immobilization stress in rats. Horm Behav 2014; 66:793-801. [PMID: 25461973 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
In male rats, a single exposure to a severe stressor such as immobilization (IMO) results in marked activation of the HPA axis and reduction of body weight gain. In addition, the HPA response to the same (homotypic) stressor is reduced, whereas the response to a different (heterotypic) stressor is enhanced for days. Although sex differences in the responsiveness of the HPA axis have been described, there are few studies about the influence of sex on long-lasting effects of stress. Thus, we have compared the consequences of a single exposure to IMO in male and female rats. Females showed a similar ACTH response to the first IMO associated with higher corticosterone, but they were more resistant than males to stress-induced loss of body weight. Unstressed females showed higher resting levels of ACTH and corticosterone, but they did not show the increase in the resting levels of HPA hormones observed in males on the day after IMO. During exposure to a different stressor (open-field) two days after IMO, enhanced corticosterone response and hypoactivity was observed in males, but not in females. Finally, a second exposure to IMO 8 days after the first one resulted in a reduction of the HPA response and of the negative impact on body weight as compared to the first exposure, and this protective effect was greater in females. In sum, IMO-exposed females showed a greater reduction of the response to a second IMO and appear to be more resistant than males to some of the negative impacts of IMO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Faculty of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit (Faculty of Psychology), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Faculty of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
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13
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Daviu N, Andero R, Armario A, Nadal R. Sex differences in the behavioural and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response to contextual fear conditioning in rats. Horm Behav 2014; 66:713-23. [PMID: 25311689 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Revised: 08/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, special attention is being paid to sex differences in susceptibility to disease. In this regard, there is evidence that male rats present higher levels of both cued and contextual fear conditioning than females. However, little is known about the concomitant hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to those situations which are critical in emotional memories. Here, we studied the behavioural and HPA responses of male and female Wistar rats to context fear conditioning using electric footshock as the aversive stimulus. Fear-conditioned rats showed a much greater ACTH and corticosterone response than those merely exposed to the fear conditioning chamber without receiving shocks. Moreover, males presented higher levels of freezing whereas HPA axis response was greater in females. Accordingly, during the fear extinction tests, female rats consistently showed less freezing and higher extinction rate, but greater HPA activation than males. Exposure to an open-field resulted in lower activity/exploration in fear-conditioned males, but not in females, suggesting greater conditioned cognitive generalization in males than females. It can be concluded that important sex differences in fear conditioning are observed in both freezing and HPA activation, but the two sets of variables are affected in the opposite direction: enhanced behavioural impact in males, but enhanced HPA responsiveness in females. Thus, the role of sex differences on fear-related stimuli may depend on the variables chosen to evaluate it, the greater responsiveness of the HPA axis in females perhaps being an important factor to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Daviu
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Raül Andero
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Animal Physiology (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain.
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències and Red de Transtornos Adictivos (RTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Psychobiology (School of Psychology), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain.
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14
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Fuentes S, Carrasco J, Armario A, Nadal R. Behavioral and neuroendocrine consequences of juvenile stress combined with adult immobilization in male rats. Horm Behav 2014; 66:475-86. [PMID: 25036868 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Revised: 07/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to stress during childhood and adolescence increases vulnerability to developing several psychopathologies in adulthood and alters the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the prototypical stress system. Rodent models of juvenile stress appear to support this hypothesis because juvenile stress can result in reduced activity/exploration and enhanced anxiety, although results are not always consistent. Moreover, an in-depth characterization of changes in the HPA axis is lacking. In the present study, the long-lasting effects of juvenile stress on adult behavior and HPA function were evaluated in male rats. The juvenile stress consisted of a combination of stressors (cat odor, forced swim and footshock) during postnatal days 23-28. Juvenile stress reduced the maximum amplitude of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels (reduced peak at lights off), without affecting the circadian corticosterone rhythm, but other aspects of the HPA function (negative glucocorticoid feedback, responsiveness to further stressors and brain gene expression of corticotrophin-releasing hormone and corticosteroid receptors) remained unaltered. The behavioral effects of juvenile stress itself at adulthood were modest (decreased activity in the circular corridor) with no evidence of enhanced anxiety. Imposition of an acute severe stressor (immobilization on boards, IMO) did not increase anxiety in control animals, as evaluated one week later in the elevated-plus maze (EPM), but it potentiated the acoustic startle response (ASR). However, acute IMO did enhance anxiety in the EPM, in juvenile stressed rats, thereby suggesting that juvenile stress sensitizes rats to the effects of additional stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Fuentes
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Carrasco
- Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit (School of Psychology), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
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15
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Pastor-Ciurana J, Rabasa C, Ortega-Sánchez JA, Sanchís-Ollè M, Gabriel-Salazar M, Ginesta M, Belda X, Daviu N, Nadal R, Armario A. Prior exposure to repeated immobilization or chronic unpredictable stress protects from some negative sequels of an acute immobilization. Behav Brain Res 2014; 265:155-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Revised: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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16
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Daviu N, Rabasa C, Nadal R, Armario A. Comparison of the effects of single and daily repeated immobilization stress on resting activity and heterotypic sensitization of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Stress 2014; 17:176-85. [PMID: 24397592 DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2014.880834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute exposure to severe stressors causes marked activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that is reflected on the day after higher resting levels of HPA hormones and sensitization of the HPA response to novel (heterotypic) stressors. However, whether a single exposure to a severe stressor or daily repeated exposure to the same (homotypic) stressor modifies these responses to the same extent has not been studied. In this experiment, we studied this issue in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats daily exposed for seven days to a severe stressor such as immobilization on boards (IMO). A first exposure to 1 h IMO resulted in a marked activation of the HPA axis as reflected in plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone, and such activation was significantly reduced after the seventh IMO. On the day after the first IMO, higher resting levels of ACTH and corticosterone and sensitization of their responses to a short exposure to an open-field (OF) were observed, together with a marked hypoactivity in this environment. Repeated exposure to IMO partially reduced hypoactivity, the increase in resting levels of HPA hormones and the ACTH responsiveness to the OF on the day after the last exposure to IMO. In contrast, corticosterone response was gradually increased, suggesting partial dissociation from ACTH. These results indicate that daily repeated exposure to the same stressor partially reduced the HPA response to the homotypic stressor as well as the sensitization of HPA axis activity observed the day after chronic stress cessation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Daviu
- Institut de Neurociències, Red de trastornos Adictivos (RTA) , Bellaterra , Spain
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17
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Goswami S, Rodríguez-Sierra O, Cascardi M, Paré D. Animal models of post-traumatic stress disorder: face validity. Front Neurosci 2013; 7:89. [PMID: 23754973 PMCID: PMC3668155 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2013.00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that develops in a proportion of individuals following a traumatic event. Despite recent advances, ethical limitations associated with human research impede progress in understanding PTSD. Fortunately, much effort has focused on developing animal models to help study the pathophysiology of PTSD. Here, we provide an overview of animal PTSD models where a variety of stressors (physical, psychosocial, or psychogenic) are used to examine the long-term effects of severe trauma. We emphasize models involving predator threat because they reproduce human individual differences in susceptibility to, and in the long-term consequences of, psychological trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonal Goswami
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers State University Newark, NJ, USA
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