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Cravedi KD, May MD, Abettan JA, Huckleberry KA, Trettel SG, Vuong CV, Altman DE, Gauchan S, Shansky RM, Matson LM, Sousa JC, Lowery-Gionta EG, Moore NLT. Response and recovery of endocrine, behavioral, and neuronal morphology outcomes after different traumatic stressor exposures in male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 133:105394. [PMID: 34474197 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical models of organismal response to traumatic stress (threat of death or serious injury) can be monitored using neuroendocrine, behavioral, and structural metrics. While many rodent models of traumatic stress have provided a glimpse into select components of the physiological response to acute and chronic stressors, few studies have directly examined the potential differences between stressors and their potential outcomes. To address this gap, we conducted a multi-level comparison of the immediate and longer-term effects of two types of acute traumatic stressors. Adult male rats were exposed to either underwater trauma (UWT), predator exposure (PE), or control procedural handling conditions. Over the next 7 days, yoked cohorts underwent either serial blood sampling for neuroendocrine evaluation across the circadian cycle, or repeated behavioral testing in the elevated plus maze. In addition, a subset of brains from the latter cohort were assessed for dendritic spine changes in the prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala. We observed stressor-dependent patterns of response and recovery across all measures, with divergence between endocrine responses despite similar behavioral outcomes. These results demonstrate that different stressors elicit unique behavioral, neuroendocrine, and neuro-structural response profiles and suggest that specific stress models can be used to model desired responses for specific preclinical applications, such as evaluations of underlying mechanisms or therapeutic candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Cravedi
- Performance Assessment and Chemical Evaluation (PACE) Laboratory, Behavioral Biology Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Matthew D May
- Performance Assessment and Chemical Evaluation (PACE) Laboratory, Behavioral Biology Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Jordan A Abettan
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Behavior, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kylie A Huckleberry
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Behavior, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sean G Trettel
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Behavior, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Chau V Vuong
- Drug Metabolism and Distribution Laboratory, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Daniel E Altman
- Performance Assessment and Chemical Evaluation (PACE) Laboratory, Behavioral Biology Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Sangeeta Gauchan
- Performance Assessment and Chemical Evaluation (PACE) Laboratory, Behavioral Biology Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Rebecca M Shansky
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Behavior, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Liana M Matson
- Performance Assessment and Chemical Evaluation (PACE) Laboratory, Behavioral Biology Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Jason C Sousa
- Drug Metabolism and Distribution Laboratory, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Emily G Lowery-Gionta
- Performance Assessment and Chemical Evaluation (PACE) Laboratory, Behavioral Biology Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Nicole L T Moore
- Performance Assessment and Chemical Evaluation (PACE) Laboratory, Behavioral Biology Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010, USA
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Zoladz PR. Animal models for the discovery of novel drugs for post-traumatic stress disorder. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 16:135-146. [PMID: 32921163 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1820982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Existing pharmacological treatments for PTSD are limited and have been used primarily because of their effectiveness in other psychiatric conditions. To generate novel, PTSD specific pharmacotherapy, researchers must utilize animal models to assess the efficacy of experimental drugs. AREAS COVERED This review includes a discussion of factors that should be considered when developing an animal model of PTSD, as well as descriptions of the most commonly used models. Researchers have utilized physical stressors, psychological stressors, or a combination of the two to induce PTSD-like physiological and behavioral sequelae in animals. Such models have provided researchers with a valuable tool to examine the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the condition. EXPERT OPINION PTSD is a heterogeneous disorder that manifests as different symptom clusters in different individuals. Thus, there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach to modeling the disorder in animals. Preclinical investigators must adopt a concentrated effort aimed at modeling specific PTSD subtypes and the distinct symptom profiles that result from specific types of human trauma. Moreover, researchers have focused so much on modeling a single PTSD syndrome in animals that studies examining only specific facets of the disorder are largely ignored. Future research employing animal models of PTSD requires greater focus on the nuances of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip R Zoladz
- Psychology Program, the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Ohio Northern University , Ada, OH, USA
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