Stress effect on neurons of cingulate gyrus in postweaned albino mice - A histological study

Stress is a common experience of daily life and all organisms have evolved mechanisms and strategies to deal with crucial alterations in their internal and external environment. Events early in post-weaning life influence brain development and subsequent adult behaviour. This study was conducted to observe neurodegeneration in normal and stressed condition in Postweaning age group of mice. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of restraint stress and foot shock stress applied for 5 days (short duration) and 21 days (long duration). BALB/ C strain of Albino mice were used. In restraint stress, animals were restrained for 6 hours daily in a restraining device. In foot shock group, animals were given intermittent electric foot shock for 3 hours daily in an electric foot shock apparatus. Animal were sacrificed at the end of stress exposure period along with their age matched control mice and the brains were processed for histological examination both in control and experimental groups. Numbers of viable neurons in the cingulate gyrus regions were counted. The data were analysed between the groups. Results of the study revealed neurodegenerative changes in the stressed group compared to control in both the experimental groups. Severe neurodegenerative changes were observed on prolonged exposure to stress.