Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe the expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rats. MethodsThe single prolonged stress (SPS) method was used to set up the rat PTSD models. A total of ninety male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 1 day, 7 days, 14 days, 28 days of SPS groups and normal control group. Immunohistochemistry,Western blotting, RT-PCR and image analysis and statistical analysis were used to detect the activity of GR. ResultsThe activity of GR in mPFC neurons gradually increased at the 7th day and the 14th day after exposure to SPS compared with the control group, reached the maximum at the 14th day after exposure to SPS, the 28th day restorative down, but still higher than the control group (EM>P/EM><0.05). ConclusionExpression of GR may be related to the pathogenesis of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Key words: Posttraumatic stress disorder, Medial prefrontal cortex, Glucocorticoid receptor, Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, RT-PCR, Rat