A Rat Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome Causes Phenotype-Associated Morphological Changes and Hypofunction of the Adrenal Gland

BACKGROUND Rats exposed to chronic predator scent stress mimic the phenotype of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans, including altered adrenal morphology and function. High- and low-anxiety phenotypes have been described in rats exposed to predator scent stress (PSS). This study aimed to determine whether these high- and low-anxiety phenotypes correlate with changes in adrenal histomorphology and corticosteroid production. METHODS Rats were exposed to PSS for ten days. Thirty days later, the rats' anxiety index (AI) was assessed with an elevated plus-maze test. Based on differences in AI, the rats were segregated into low- (AI ≤ 0.8, n = 9) and high- (AI > 0.8, n = 10) anxiety phenotypes. Plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentrations were measured by ELISA. Adrenal CORT, desoxyCORT, and 11-dehydroCORT were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. After staining with hematoxylin and eosin, adrenal histomorphometric changes were evaluated by measuring the thickness of the functional zones of the adrenal cortex. RESULTS Decreased plasma CORT concentrations, as well as decreased adrenal CORT, desoxyCORT and 11-dehydroCORT concentrations, were observed in high- but not in low-anxiety phenotypes. These decreases were associated with increases in AI. PSS led to a significant decrease in the thickness of the zona fasciculata and an increase in the thickness of the zona intermedia. The increase in the thickness of the zona intermedia was more pronounced in low-anxiety than in high-anxiety rats. A decrease in the adrenal capsule thickness was observed only in low-anxiety rats. The nucleus diameter of cells in the zona fasciculata of high-anxiety rats was significantly smaller than that of control or low-anxiety rats. CONCLUSION Phenotype-associated changes in adrenal function and histomorphology were observed in a rat model of complex post-traumatic stress disorder

A Rat Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome Causes Phenotype-Associated Morphological Changes and Hypofunction of the Adrenal Gland

Background: Rats exposed to chronic predator scent stress mimic the phenotype of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans, including altered adrenal morphology and function. High- and low-anxiety phenotypes have been described in rats exposed to predator scent stress (PSS). This study aimed to determine whether these high- and low-anxiety phenotypes correlate with changes in adrenal histomorphology and corticosteroid production. Methods: Rats were exposed to PSS for ten days. Thirty days later, the rats’ anxiety index (AI) was assessed with an elevated plus-maze test. Based on differences in AI, the rats were segregated into low- (AI ≤ 0.8, n = 9) and high- (AI > 0.8, n = 10) anxiety phenotypes. Plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentrations were measured by ELISA. Adrenal CORT, desoxyCORT, and 11-dehydroCORT were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. After staining with hematoxylin and eosin, adrenal histomorphometric changes were evaluated by measuring the thickness of the functional zones of the adrenal cortex. Results: Decreased plasma CORT concentrations, as well as decreased adrenal CORT, desoxyCORT and 11-dehydroCORT concentrations, were observed in high- but not in low-anxietyphenotypes. These decreases were associated with increases in AI. PSS led to a significant decrease in the thickness of the zona fasciculata and an increase in the thickness of the zona intermedia. The increase in the thickness of the zona intermedia was more pronounced in low-anxiety than in high-anxiety rats. A decrease in the adrenal capsule thickness was observed only in low-anxiety rats. The nucleus diameter of cells in the zona fasciculata of high-anxiety rats was significantly smaller than that of control or low-anxiety rats. Conclusion: Phenotype-associated changes in adrenal function and histomorphology were observed in a rat model of complex post-traumatic stress disorder

Ecology mediatization: strategy of biological resource management (on the example of the RNO-Alania)

The article shows how the process of the formation of environmental mediatization concept contributes to the implementation of the bioresource management strategy. The research has been conducted in the subject of the Russian Federation, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. This region has been selected as rather complicated and environmentally vulnerable due to the fact that natural resource and ethno-cultural potentials pose severe challenges there. The final sample consists of 150 publications of an informational and analytical character published in the periodicals of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania from 2017 to September 2021. These days, network information resources are considered the most effective tool of mediatizing ecology and developing a strategy for managing biological resources. However, as a result of the spontaneous approach to the formation of the RNO-Alania as an environmentally pristine region, there is an imbalance of both information coverage and coverage of environmental issues in comparison to other topics. The conducted research has made it possible to outline the parameters of the spontaneously developing network media system and highlight their main characteristics. Thus, the media image of the RNO-Alania as an environmentally friendly region nowadays basically does not meet the requirements and challenges of modern times

Ecology mediatization: strategy of biological resource management (on the example of the RNO-Alania)

The article shows how the process of the formation of environmental mediatization concept contributes to the implementation of the bioresource management strategy. The research has been conducted in the subject of the Russian Federation, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. This region has been selected as rather complicated and environmentally vulnerable due to the fact that natural resource and ethno-cultural potentials pose severe challenges there. The final sample consists of 150 publications of an informational and analytical character published in the periodicals of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania from 2017 to September 2021. These days, network information resources are considered the most effective tool of mediatizing ecology and developing a strategy for managing biological resources. However, as a result of the spontaneous approach to the formation of the RNO-Alania as an environmentally pristine region, there is an imbalance of both information coverage and coverage of environmental issues in comparison to other topics. The conducted research has made it possible to outline the parameters of the spontaneously developing network media system and highlight their main characteristics. Thus, the media image of the RNO-Alania as an environmentally friendly region nowadays basically does not meet the requirements and challenges of modern times.</jats:p

Network information resources as a tool for mediatization of the Arctic

The article presents the results of a study of online information resources that form the modern media image of the Arctic. Using a random sample, 25 online media were selected for analysis, of which five groups of information resources were identified. According to the keywords “Arctic”, “Northern Territories”, “Arctic Zone of Russia”, a database has been formed that includes 500 media texts. Based on their analysis, we tried to answer the questions about what is becoming the dominant media image of the Arctic formed by means of Arctic journalism at the present time, how balanced it is and how it meets the challenges of the time and state interests. The territorial features of the distribution of media texts in the regions of the Arctic zone of Russia are revealed. In terms of their absolute number, the Murmansk Region and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District are the leaders, and in terms of the number of publications per 10,000 people of the population—the Republic of Komi, or rather, the Vorkuta city district, the only one in this subject of the Russian Federation that is part of the Arctic zone of Russia. The most and least frequently encountered topics of media texts are identified. Among the first are publications on the topic of the Arctic raw material potential (32 %), among the second—publications on social topics (6 %). Despite the diversity of media content and the availability of publications on such topics as housing and social security, quality of life, tourism, education, culture and traditions of the peoples of the North, the frequency of publications on social topics in the general flow is extremely low. It is concluded that the potential of this topic is currently not sufficiently disclosed in modern Arctic journalism.</jats:p

A Rat Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome Causes Phenotype-Associated Morphological Changes and Hypofunction of the Adrenal Gland

Background: Rats exposed to chronic predator scent stress mimic the phenotype of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans, including altered adrenal morphology and function. High- and low-anxiety phenotypes have been described in rats exposed to predator scent stress (PSS). This study aimed to determine whether these high- and low-anxiety phenotypes correlate with changes in adrenal histomorphology and corticosteroid production. Methods: Rats were exposed to PSS for ten days. Thirty days later, the rats’ anxiety index (AI) was assessed with an elevated plus-maze test. Based on differences in AI, the rats were segregated into low- (AI ≤ 0.8, n = 9) and high- (AI > 0.8, n = 10) anxiety phenotypes. Plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentrations were measured by ELISA. Adrenal CORT, desoxyCORT, and 11-dehydroCORT were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. After staining with hematoxylin and eosin, adrenal histomorphometric changes were evaluated by measuring the thickness of the functional zones of the adrenal cortex. Results: Decreased plasma CORT concentrations, as well as decreased adrenal CORT, desoxyCORT and 11-dehydroCORT concentrations, were observed in high- but not in low-anxietyphenotypes. These decreases were associated with increases in AI. PSS led to a significant decrease in the thickness of the zona fasciculata and an increase in the thickness of the zona intermedia. The increase in the thickness of the zona intermedia was more pronounced in low-anxiety than in high-anxiety rats. A decrease in the adrenal capsule thickness was observed only in low-anxiety rats. The nucleus diameter of cells in the zona fasciculata of high-anxiety rats was significantly smaller than that of control or low-anxiety rats. Conclusion: Phenotype-associated changes in adrenal function and histomorphology were observed in a rat model of complex post-traumatic stress disorder