Examining Abnormal Behavior and Physiology in a Prolonged Stress Mouse Model of Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder

John Holsten

Abstract

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized as exposure to a traumatic event that manifest into dysfunctional behaviors such as avoidance and intrusive thoughts, which can impact a person’s well-being. Additionally, an immediate physiological response occurs and can produce an abnormal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis response. The current study seeks to examine the behavior and physiological response of mice following a prolonged stress mouse model of PTSD. The prolonged stress model consisted of restraint stress, forced swim, and exposure to diethyl ether followed by single housing. Four groups were used – naïve, single-housed, single prolonged stress (SPS), and repeated prolonged stress (rSPS) – to assess abnormal behavior and physiology that correspond with PTSD. Results revealed the SPS group showed significant increase in locomotion in the open field (p < 0.05) and time spent in the closed arm of the elevated plus maze (p < 0.01), as well as decreases in social preference (p < 0.05). Additionally, urinary corticosterone revealed a significant increase in corticosterone levels both 1 day (p < 0.001) and 42 days (p < 0.001) after stress induction among groups. Future analyses will analyze morphological changes of microglial cells in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and amygdala. This will help us better understand how microglia alter their morphology in PTSD.

Faculty Advisor: Todd Peterson

Acknowledgment: Kimberly Prescott, Taitum Cothren, Stacie Beuschel, Dave MacQueen, Todd Peterson

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John Holsten

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Email: jth2132@uncw.edu