Effects of psychological stress on dopaminergic neurous of the central nervous system and the effect of intervention with tyrosine / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of repeated psychological stress on central nerve dopamine system, and the effect of tyrosine intervention. Methods Rats were subjected to psychological stress by Communication Box model continuously for 14 days (30min/d), and fed with tyrosine in the dose of 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg or 1000mg/kg respectively. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and fos protein of the brain tissue in the ventral tegumental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (Nac) and mesoprefrontal cortex (mPFC) area were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results In the ventral tegumental area (VTA), 5.1mm posterior to anterior fontanel, TH positive neurons were obviously less in number in psychological stress group than that in control group (P