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Persistent stress-induced elevations of urinary corticosterone in rats
F X Brennan1, J E Ottenweller, Y Seifu
1Neurobehavioral Unit, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 88 Ross Street, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA.
Physiology & Behavior
|March 10, 2001
Summary
Inescapable stress in rats causes lasting increases in plasma corticosterone (CORT) at the circadian trough. Urinary CORT also remains elevated post-stress, mirroring human affective disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Stress Physiology
- Comparative Medicine
Background:
- Inescapable stress (IS) in rats causes persistent elevations in plasma corticosterone (CORT), primarily at the circadian trough.
- Human affective disorders show persistent hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) activation, typically measured by 24-h urinary cortisol.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of IS on plasma and urinary CORT in rats.
- To facilitate interspecies comparisons of stress effects on HPAA activity.
Main Methods:
- Male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to IS (tailshocks) or control conditions.
- Collected daily 24-h urine samples pre- and post-stress.
- Obtained plasma samples at trough (08:00) and peak (20:00) times post-stress.
Main Results:
- Plasma CORT elevations were observed in trough samples for 3 days post-stress cessation.
- 24-h urinary CORT levels remained elevated for 3 days after stressor cessation.
- Urinary CORT elevations post-stress in rats resemble HPAA abnormalities in human affective disorders.
Conclusions:
- Persistent stress-induced elevations in urinary CORT in rats provide a relevant model for human affective disorders.
- Urinary CORT may serve as a useful biomarker for chronic stress effects across species.