The significate of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in reducing PTSD cognitive function symptoms

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study the expressions of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1 receptor in the hippocampal CA1 region of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rats. MethodsForty healthy adult male Wistar rats were adopted. The internationally established single prolonged stress (SPS) method was used to set up the PTSD rat model and the immunohistochemical (IHC) method was applied to detect the expressions of IGF-1 and its receptor in the hippocampal CA1 region of PTSD rats. ResultsAfter SPS stimulus, the expression of IGF-1 protein in the rat hippocampal CA1 region increased with the development of PTSD and reached the maximum on the 14th day, which is statistically different from that of the control group (P<0.05); While the expression of IGF-1 receptor protein showed no significant difference on the 1st day and 7th day before and after stress (P>0.05), but slightly decreased on the 14th day and 28th day than before (P<0.05). ConclusionAfter stress, the expression of IGF-1 receptor didn’t grow in pace with that of IGF-1 accordingly, but slightly lowered instead. This indicates that IGF-1 receptor may affect the positive role of IGF-1 to some degree and meanwhile involve the pathophysiological process of cognitive changes of PTSD.