Changes of phosphorylated ERK 1/2 and c-fos in the medial prefrontal cortex of post-traumatic stress disorder rats / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the changes of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) and c-fos in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and PTSD model group. The model group rats were exposed to the single-prolonged stress (SPS) to set up the rat PTSD model. The expression of pERK1/2 was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, and the expression of c-fos mRNA was detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The result of immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the number of pERK1/2-positive cells of control group and model group were 10.4±2.07 and 48.8±10.08 respectively (P<0.01), and integral optical density were 24.955±3.691 and 110.810±10.643 respectively (P<0.01). And Western blotting showed that relative expression quantities of pERK/β-actin were 0.510±0.052 and 1.109±0.106 respectively (P<0.01). The quantities of c-fos mRNA relative expression of control group and model group were 0.267±0.067 and 1.049±0.131 (P<0.01). Conlusion The levels of pERK1/2 and c-fos increase significantly in mPFC of PTSD model rats. The ERK signal transduction pathway in mPFC might play an important role in the pathogenesis of PTSD.