Expression of synaptophysin in hippocampal CA1 region and prefrontal cortex of PTSD rats / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To investigate the expression of synaptophysin in the CA1 region of hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , and to explore the mechanism of spatial memory changes in PTSD rats.METHODS:Healthy adult SD rats (n=36) were randomly divided into 2 groupscontrol group and model group, with 18 rats in each group.The rats in model group was continuously given single prolonged stress (SPS) to construct the PTSD model.Morris water maze (MWM) was used to test the learning and memory ability of the rats in the2 groups.The protein expression of synaptophysin in the hippocampal CA1 area and PFC was examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and immunofluorescence experiments.RESULTS:The latency of the rats in searching for the underwater platform in model group was significantly longer than that in control group from the 2nd day (P<0.01) in the MWM experiment, the target quadrant swimming time was significantly shortened (P<0.01) , and the times of crossing the platform were also significantly reduced (P<0.01).The results of immunohistochemistry, Western blot and immunofluorescence experiments showed that the expression of synaptophysin was obviously reduced in the CA1 region of hippocampus and PFC in model group as compared with control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The reduction of spatial memory ability in PTSD rats may be associated with the decreased expression of synaptophysin in the CA1 region of hippocampus and PFC.