The Role of Potassium Channels in Chronic Stress-Induced Brain Injury

Chronic stress-induced brain injury (CSBI) is the organic damage of tissue caused by long-term psychological and environmental stress. However, there no effective drug for treatment CSBI. The present study aimed to investigate possible mechanisms CSBI explore related therapeutic targets. A rat model was established combining chronic restraint cold water immersion. Our validated via Nissl staining, Western blotting, behavioral tests. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) used identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) within during Both Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes Genomes (KEGG) Gene Ontology (GO) analyses were performed determine signaling pathways associated with CSBI-induced DEGs. Agonists/antagonists validate pharmacodynamics potential combination immersion successfully induced a CSBI, as indicated various markers cell apoptosis that verified RNA-seq analysis identified 1131 DEGs in rats. Of these DEGs, 553 up-regulated 778 down-regulated. GO KEGG pathway revealed significant predominantly membrane-bound ion channels, among which potassium channel function found be significantly affected. Pharmacological experiments retigabine, voltage-gated opener, demonstrated protective effect Taken together, our findings suggest disrupted regulators may anti-CSBI drugs.