Personality traits modulate brain ERK1/2 activity after unpredictable chronic stress in rats

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Personality traits modulate brain ERK1/2 activity after unpredictable chronic stress in rats Jorge Castro1*, Shanaz Diessler1, Cristina Marquez1, Maria Cordero1 and Carmen Sandi1 1 Brain Mind Institute,EPFL, BMI, Switzerland Research in humans has identified several psychosocial factors associated with both resilience to stress and stress-induced depression. Despite increasing interest on unraveling the basic structure of personality and its relation to the vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, no clear picture has as yet emerged. We have previously shown in rodents a close link between anxiety trait and the vulnerability to develop depression-like behaviors under conditions of chronic stress. We hypothesized the combination of several behavioral traits might provide an even better explanation of individual’s vulnerability and resilience to prolonged stress. Stress has been shown to alter the degree of activation of the multifunctional extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) -as indicated by its phosphorylation (p) pERK1/2- and pharmacological manipulations of the ERK pathway affected anxiety and coping behavior. Therefore, we aimed to study (i) the modulatory role of personality traits on the behavioural effects of chronic stress, and (ii) the neurobiological correlates of the vulnerability to stress-induced depressive-like behavior by evaluating pERK1/2 as a plasticity pathway potentially reflecting behavioral adaptation to stress. Sprague-Dawley rats were characterized using a wide battery of behavioral tasks and groups were matched according to their personality traits. Stressed animals were submitted to either subchronic (2 weeks) or chronic (4 weeks) unpredictable stress, whilst control rats were handled daily. Depressive-like behaviors were evaluated at the end of the chronic stress procedure using the forced swimming test. Fifteen minutes after the end of this test, brains were removed and processed for pERK1/2 immunohistochemistry. The results indicate the impact of stress on behavior is related to different patterns of pERK1/2 brain activity. Moreover, these effects are dependent on the interaction between personality traits and the length of stress exposure. Conference: 41st European Brain and Behaviour Society Meeting, Rhodes Island, Greece, 13 Sep - 18 Sep, 2009. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Poster presentations Citation: Castro J, Diessler S, Marquez C, Cordero M and Sandi C (2009). Personality traits modulate brain ERK1/2 activity after unpredictable chronic stress in rats. Conference Abstract: 41st European Brain and Behaviour Society Meeting. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.08.2009.09.106 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 08 Jun 2009; Published Online: 08 Jun 2009. * Correspondence: Jorge Castro, Brain Mind Institute,EPFL, BMI, Lausanne, Switzerland, jorge.castro@epfl.ch Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Jorge Castro Shanaz Diessler Cristina Marquez Maria Cordero Carmen Sandi Google Jorge Castro Shanaz Diessler Cristina Marquez Maria Cordero Carmen Sandi Google Scholar Jorge Castro Shanaz Diessler Cristina Marquez Maria Cordero Carmen Sandi PubMed Jorge Castro Shanaz Diessler Cristina Marquez Maria Cordero Carmen Sandi Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.