Sex-specific alterations in visual properties induced by single prolonged stress model

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Visual Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents with distinct sex differences in symptomology.
• Women report higher rates of intrusive and avoidance symptoms than men.
• Sex-informed approaches are crucial for PTSD research and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex-specific effects of stress on visual function.
• To explore the physiological basis of stress-induced visual impairments using a rodent model.
• To determine the role of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 in these sex-specific changes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the single prolonged stress (SPS) model in rodents, a model for PTSD.
• Assessed neuronal function in the primary visual cortex (V1) of male and female mice.
• Measured optimal spatial frequency (SF) and optimal temporal frequency (TF) of V1 neurons.

Main Results:

• Male SPS mice showed heightened optimal SF in V1 neurons.
• Female SPS mice exhibited decreased optimal TF in V1 neurons.
• These sex-specific visual alterations persisted for at least 29 days post-SPS.

Conclusions:

• Severe stress induces distinct sex-specific effects on visual function.
• These findings may explain observed differences in visual acuity between sexes after stress.
• Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 regulates V1 neuronal function but does not show sex differences in this context.