Elucidating the Neural Basis of Prolonged Stress Disorders: Focusing on Immunoendocrinology

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17053
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Ryoke Rie 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 助教 (10737464)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 恐怖条件づけ / 心的外傷後ストレス障害 / 核磁気共鳴画像法 / ラット / コルチコステロン / サイトカイン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I focused on the endocrine and immune mechanisms by which intense stress experiences shape fear response enhancement. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the mechanisms by which minute changes in the body during and after the experience of stress cause fear response enhancement in an animal model of PTSD.
Behavior and brain imaging were examined after treatment to pharmacologically attenuate the stress response prior to exposure to severe stress. Brain regions that correlated with the strength of fear memories were analyzed. In addition, stress-related hormones and cytokines in the blood were measured. Brain regions correlated with the experience of intense stress were analyzed. We obtained clues to the mechanism by which stressful experiences increase later fear responses.

Free Research Field

行動神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

心的外傷となるようなストレッサーが引き起こす行動と生体の脳形態および免疫系・内分泌系の長期的な変化を検討した。このことは、心的外傷後ストレス障害のようなストレス関連精神疾患のさらなる理解に繋がる。強いストレスを受けた後の生体の状態を時間を追って明らかにした。これは生体がどのように変化するか理解することに繋がり、学術的意義がある。疾患のよりよい治療法を見出す一助となると期待され、社会的意義がある。