title: Behavioral changes over time in post-traumatic stress disorder: Insights from a rat model of single prolonged stress.
abstract: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is manifested as a persistent mental and emotional condition after potentially life-threatening events. Different animal models of PTSD have been developed for neuro-pathophysiology and pharmacological evaluations. A single prolonged stress (SPS) induced animal model has demonstrated to result in specific neuro-endocrinological dysregulation, and behavior abnormalities observed in PTSD. However, animal studies of PTSD have mostly been performed at one time point after SPS exposure. To better understand the development of PTSD-like behaviors in the SPS animal model, and to identify an optimal period of study, we examined depressive behavior, anxiety-like behavior, physical activity and body weight in SPS model rats for two weeks. Our results confirmed the SPS-induced PTSD-like behavior and physical activity observed in previous studies, and indicated that the most pronounced symptomatic behavior changes were observed on day 1 and 7 after SPS exposure, which may involve stress-induced acute hormone changes and unclear secondary neurobiological changes, respectively. These results provide a solid basis for further investigation into the neuro-pathophysiology of or neuropharmacology for PTSD using the SPS rat model. However, for chronic (pharmacological) studies longer than 7 days, a prolonged PTSD animal model should be developed, perhaps using enhanced stimulation.
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhuoyun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Junqiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Genmao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Dongyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yingqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhaolan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. Electronic address: songyuehan1981@126.com.
authors.forename: Yuehan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013550:Swimming
keywords: Forced swimming test; Open field test; PTSD; SPS