A predator-based psychosocial stress animal model of PTSD in females: Influence of estrous phase and ovarian hormones.

A predator-based psychosocial stress animal model of PTSD in females: Influence of estrous phase and ovarian hormones. Horm Behav. 2019 Aug 14;:104564 Authors: Zoladz PR, D'Alessio PA, Seeley SL, Kasler CD, Goodman CS, Mucher KE, Allison AS, Smith IF, Dodson JL, Stoops TS, Rorabaugh BR Abstract Traumatized women are more likely than traumatized men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Still, the inclusion of females in animal models of PTSD has largely been avoided, likely due to the variable hormone profile of female rodents. Because a valid animal model of PTSD that incorporates females is still needed, we examined the influence of estrous stage and ovarian hormones on the female rat response to a predator-based psychosocial stress model of PTSD. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to psychosocial stress or control conditions for 31 days. Stressed rats were given two cat exposures and daily social instability; control rats were handled daily. Beginning on Day 32, rats underwent physiological or behavioral testing. In Experiment 1, vaginal smears were collected on days of the first and second cat exposures and each day of behavioral testing to determine estrous stage. In Experiments 2 and 3, ovariectomized or sham control rats were exposed to stress or control conditions. Then, they were given behavioral testing (Exp 2), or their hearts were isolated and subjected to ischemia/reperfusion on a Langendorff isolated ...
Source: Hormones and Behavior - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Tags: Horm Behav Source Type: research