Features of Behavioral Changes Accompanied by Decreases in Corticosterone Levels in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Experimental Application of Novel Models and Test Methods

摘要

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was modeled by keeping mature male Wistar rats in conditions of unavoidable exposure to the odor of a predator (cat urine) for 10-min periods for 10 days followed by a twoweek period of being kept in standard conditions. Anxiety was assessed by testing in an elevated plus maze and in a novel model allowing the animal to demonstrate voluntary locomotor activity in a social context. The consequences of stress in the short- and long-term periods on behavior, the repertoire of psychoemotional expressions, and the serum corticosterone level were studied. The behavioral and psychoemotional signs of the development of PTSD were accompanied by decreases in corticosterone levels. Important data were obtained on retention of infradian rhythms of locomotor activity during and after exposure to stress.