Impacts of Chronic Restraint Stress on Cognitive Function and Astrocytes in Different Subregions of Hippocampus in Mice

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-5817.2016.03.002

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To explore the impact of chronic restraint stress (CRS) on the cognitive function of mice, and observe the activation of astrocyte (AS) in different subregions of hippocampus (CA1, CA3 and DG), thus to make clear whether the damage of chronic stress in hippocampus has specific targets. Methods According to the body mass, 24 male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group and stress group, with 12 mice in each group. A chronic stress model of mouse was established by using chronic restraint method. The cognitive function was evaluated by novel object recognition test (NORT) and Morris water maze (MWM), cell morphology changes were observed by HE staining, while the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as marker of AS in hippocampal CA1, CA3 and DG areas were observed by immunohistochemistry staining. The AS number and GFAP expression in subregions of hippocampus were counted and analyzed by using the microscope and image analysis software respectively. Results Compared with the control group, the NORT and MWM scores of stress group were both decreased significantly (P<0.05), AS numbers and GFAP expression in CA1, CA3 areas were both significantly increased (P<0.05), and in DG area there was no significant changes (P>0.05). Conclusion CRS could lead to cognitive dysfunction in mice, and the activation of AS in hippocampus CA1, CA3 regions may be one of the mechanisms.

Key words: Chronic restraint stress (CRS), Hippocampus, Astrocyte (AS), Glial fiber acidic protein (GFAP)

CLC Number:

R743Q95-33

WANG Yan-yong, ZHANG Zhong-xia, SUN Mei-yu, WANG Ming-wei. Impacts of Chronic Restraint Stress on Cognitive Function and Astrocytes in Different Subregions of Hippocampus in Mice[J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2016, 36(3): 168-173.

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