Pathogenetic Role of the Stress-induced Release of Glucocorticoid Hormones in the Development of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: An Experimental Study.

In the rat experimental model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the level of blood corticosterone was at least eight-fold increased (an overrelease). The use of hypobaric hypoxic preconditioning or short-term inhibition of glucocorticoid synthesis by metyrapone injection prevented development of the experimental PTSD.