Blunted HPA Axis Response to Stress Influences Susceptibility to Posttraumatic Stress Response in Rats

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with low levels of circulating cortisol, and recent studies suggest that cortisol administration may reduce PTSD symptoms. This study investigated the role of cortisol in the manifestation of anxiety- and fear-like symptoms in an animal model of PTSD. Magnitude of changes in prevalence of anxiety-like behaviors on the elevated plus-maze and nonhabituated exaggerated startle reaction were compared in three strains of rats exposed to predator stress, with and without prior corticosterone treatment. Extreme behavioral changes in both paradigms implied an extreme behavioral response (EBR), representing PTSD-like symptoms. Lewis rats exhibited greater baseline anxiety-like behaviors and greater stress-induced increases in anxiety-like behaviors than Fischer F344 or Sprague–Dawley rats, with only minor corticosterone increases following stress. Prevalence of EBR was 50% among Lewis rats compared with 10% of Fischer F344 and 25% of Sprague–Dawley rats. Administering corticosterone 1 hour before stress exposure reduced the prevalence of EBR from 50% to 8% in the Lewis rats. These results suggest that a blunted HPA response to stress may play a causal role in this model of PTSD and that this susceptibility may be prevented by administration of cortisol before stress exposure.