Role of apoptosis in the Post-traumatic stress disorder model-single prolonged stressed rats

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-related mental disease which can occur after exposure to serious traumatic events. PTSD patients experience four major symptoms: re-experiencing; avoidance; numbing; and hyperarousal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have identified a reduced volume in the hippocampus of PTSD patients (Bremner et al., 1995; Gilbertson et al., 2002). However, the mechanisms that cause atrophy are not well understood. We focused on the role of apoptosis, which may be associated with atrophy of brain regions in PTSD.
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research