Abstract
This study had two purposes. First: to compare predator and water submersion stress cFos activation in medial prefrontal cortices (mPFC) and the medial amygdala (MeA). Second: to identify markers of vulnerability to stressors within these areas. Rats were either predator or submersion stressed and tested 1.75. h later for anxiety. Immediately thereafter, rats were sacrificed and cFos expression was examined. Predator and submersion stress equally increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and hole board. To examine vulnerability, rats which were less anxious (LA) and more (highly) anxious (MA) in the EPM were selected from among handled control and stressed animals. LA stressed rats were considered stress non-responsive while MA stressed rats were considered stress responsive. Predator stress, but not submersion stress, activated MeA cFos. CFos expression of mPFC cells was elevated in LA rats and reduced in MA rats in predator stressed animals only, correlating negatively with anxiety. These findings are consistent with data implicating greater mPFC excitability in protection against the effects on affect of traumatic stress. The findings also suggest that this conclusion is stressor specific, applying to predator stress but not submersion stress. Both stressors have been suggested to model hyperarousal and comorbid anxiety aspects of PTSD in humans. Hence the use of these paradigms to identify brain bases of vulnerability and resilience to traumatic stress in PTSD has translation potential. On the other hand, our evidence of stressor specificity of vulnerability/resilience markers raises a caution. The data suggest that preclinical markers of vulnerability/resilience in a given stress paradigm are at best suggestive, and translational value must ultimately be confirmed in humans.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 628-638 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Physiology and Behavior |
| Volume | 105 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 1 2012 |
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Keywords
- Anxiety
- CFos
- PTSD
- Stress
- Vulnerability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Philosophy
Cite this
A comparison of activation patterns of cells in selected prefrontal cortical and amygdala areas of rats which are more or less anxious in response to predator exposure or submersion stress. / Adamec, Robert; Tóth, M.; Haller, J.; Halász, J.; Blundell, Jacqueline.
In: Physiology and Behavior, Vol. 105, No. 3, 01.02.2012, p. 628-638.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A comparison of activation patterns of cells in selected prefrontal cortical and amygdala areas of rats which are more or less anxious in response to predator exposure or submersion stress
AU - Adamec, Robert
AU - Tóth, M.
AU - Haller, J.
AU - Halász, J.
AU - Blundell, Jacqueline
PY - 2012/2/1
Y1 - 2012/2/1
N2 - This study had two purposes. First: to compare predator and water submersion stress cFos activation in medial prefrontal cortices (mPFC) and the medial amygdala (MeA). Second: to identify markers of vulnerability to stressors within these areas. Rats were either predator or submersion stressed and tested 1.75. h later for anxiety. Immediately thereafter, rats were sacrificed and cFos expression was examined. Predator and submersion stress equally increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and hole board. To examine vulnerability, rats which were less anxious (LA) and more (highly) anxious (MA) in the EPM were selected from among handled control and stressed animals. LA stressed rats were considered stress non-responsive while MA stressed rats were considered stress responsive. Predator stress, but not submersion stress, activated MeA cFos. CFos expression of mPFC cells was elevated in LA rats and reduced in MA rats in predator stressed animals only, correlating negatively with anxiety. These findings are consistent with data implicating greater mPFC excitability in protection against the effects on affect of traumatic stress. The findings also suggest that this conclusion is stressor specific, applying to predator stress but not submersion stress. Both stressors have been suggested to model hyperarousal and comorbid anxiety aspects of PTSD in humans. Hence the use of these paradigms to identify brain bases of vulnerability and resilience to traumatic stress in PTSD has translation potential. On the other hand, our evidence of stressor specificity of vulnerability/resilience markers raises a caution. The data suggest that preclinical markers of vulnerability/resilience in a given stress paradigm are at best suggestive, and translational value must ultimately be confirmed in humans.
AB - This study had two purposes. First: to compare predator and water submersion stress cFos activation in medial prefrontal cortices (mPFC) and the medial amygdala (MeA). Second: to identify markers of vulnerability to stressors within these areas. Rats were either predator or submersion stressed and tested 1.75. h later for anxiety. Immediately thereafter, rats were sacrificed and cFos expression was examined. Predator and submersion stress equally increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and hole board. To examine vulnerability, rats which were less anxious (LA) and more (highly) anxious (MA) in the EPM were selected from among handled control and stressed animals. LA stressed rats were considered stress non-responsive while MA stressed rats were considered stress responsive. Predator stress, but not submersion stress, activated MeA cFos. CFos expression of mPFC cells was elevated in LA rats and reduced in MA rats in predator stressed animals only, correlating negatively with anxiety. These findings are consistent with data implicating greater mPFC excitability in protection against the effects on affect of traumatic stress. The findings also suggest that this conclusion is stressor specific, applying to predator stress but not submersion stress. Both stressors have been suggested to model hyperarousal and comorbid anxiety aspects of PTSD in humans. Hence the use of these paradigms to identify brain bases of vulnerability and resilience to traumatic stress in PTSD has translation potential. On the other hand, our evidence of stressor specificity of vulnerability/resilience markers raises a caution. The data suggest that preclinical markers of vulnerability/resilience in a given stress paradigm are at best suggestive, and translational value must ultimately be confirmed in humans.
KW - Anxiety
KW - CFos
KW - PTSD
KW - Stress
KW - Vulnerability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80155211063&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80155211063&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.09.016
DO - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.09.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 21971366
AN - SCOPUS:80155211063
VL - 105
SP - 628
EP - 638
JO - Physiology and Behavior
JF - Physiology and Behavior
SN - 0031-9384
IS - 3
ER -