Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


kent1289166503.pdf (390.32 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

An investigation of potential risk factors related to stress psychopathology

Finamore, Terri L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1289166503

Abstract Details

2010, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences.
Risk factors related to stress psychopathology remain elusive in the etiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological disturbances. The present study sought to identify specific vulnerabilities related to the onset and maintenance of PTSD. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats (male and female) were randomly assigned to four groups. Three treatment groups were designed to represent various degrees of potential susceptibility to the development of PTSD. Rats assigned to the experimental conditions were given i.p. kainic acid injections to induce hippocampal brain insult and exposed to a two hour restraint stress trauma session. Three shorter stress exposures were introduced at 10 day intervals to simulate situational reminders of trauma. It was hypothesized that rats assigned to the treatment conditions would display substandard performances at test on measures of anxiety and startle reactivity. Inhibitory avoidance and escape were assessed in the elevated T-maze. Measures of habituation and prepulse inhibition were assessed in a startle chamber. The results of the study were inconsistent with the hypotheses. The treatment manipulations failed to reveal differences between the three treatment groups and the control group. Results did reveal significant sex differences. Male rats recorded longer latencies in the elevated T-maze on the measure of inhibitory avoidance. There were no significant differences between males and females on the measure of escape. An analysis of startle reactivity revealed significant Sex x Stress and Sex x Hippocampal Insult interactions. Following stress exposure, male rats were less reactive compared to female rats while male rats exposed to postnatal hippocampal insult were more reactive. Kainic acid and restraint stress manipulations failed to alter habituation. On the analysis of prepulse inhibition male rats failed to inhibit responding to the pre-stimulus warning at the two lower level intensities. The observed sex differences are discussed in the context of differential biological and behavioral mechanisms and protective sex specific advantages. Methodological issues involving the reliability of treatment and testing parameters and developmental, physiological and motivational components beyond the scope of this investigation are addressed as possibly contributing to the lack of differences observed between groups. The present findings are discussed as relevant to future investigations into gender specific mechanisms and sexual differentiation in the utility of animal models of psychopathology.
David C. Riccio, PhD (Advisor)
75 p.
Behaviorial Sciences; Physiological Psychology; Psychology
PTSD; stress; hippocampus; risk factors

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Finamore, T. L. (2010). An investigation of potential risk factors related to stress psychopathology [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1289166503

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Finamore, Terri. An investigation of potential risk factors related to stress psychopathology. 2010. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1289166503.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Finamore, Terri. "An investigation of potential risk factors related to stress psychopathology." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1289166503

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1289166503
699
© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.