Figure 1.
Induction of Fos family proteins in brain after acute and chronic stress. A, Representative Western blot, using a pan-Fos antibody, showing induction of Fos family proteins in the frontal cortex under four conditions: control (Ctl), non-handled controls; acute (Ac), single restraint stress with animals used 2 hr later; chronic (Chr), daily restraint stress for 10 d with animals used 24 hr after the last stress; chronic plus acute (Chr+Ac), daily restraint stress for 11 d with animals used 2 hr after the last stress. B, Levels of Fos family protein induction in the frontal cortex revealed by Western blotting were quantified and expressed as the mean percentage of change from control ± SEM (n = 4-10 animals in each group). The Mr values labeled on the x-axis correspond to the bands shown in A. *p < 0.05 by ANOVA and by t test compared with control. C, Similar analysis of ΔFosB (35-37 kDa) induction by acute and chronic stress in the NAc. D, Time course of ΔFosB (35-35 kDa) expression in the NAc, dorsal striatum [caudate-putamen (CPu)], frontal cortex, and lateral septum 24 hr after 1, 5, or 10 d of restraint stress. E, Levels of 35-37 kDa ΔFosB isoforms in the NAc and frontal cortex after 1 or 7 d of withdrawal from chronic (10 d) restraint stress. F, Levels of 35-37 kDa ΔFosB isoforms in the NAc, CPu, frontal cortex, and lateral septum after 10 d of chronic unpredictable stress.