Effects of chronic stress on morphology and structure of rat hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons

Objective To explore the effects of chronic forced-swimming on morphology and structure of rat hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons. Methods Twenty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into stress group and control group, 13 rats in each group. The effect of chronic stress on morphology and structure of rat hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons was detected with Nissl staining, Golgi staining and electron microscope. Results The number of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons in stress group (35.1±3.9) was significantly less than that in control group (38.7±3.5) ,P0.05. The total length of apical dendrite in stress group (55.7±33.3) μm was significantly shorter than that in control group (195.6±34.6 ) μm ,P0.05. The ultrastructural changes, including the solid-shrink of whole cell, reduction of cell volume, wrinkle of cell membrane, degeneration of mitochondria and illegibility of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, were observed in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons in chronic stress rats. Conclusion It is suggested that chronic stress can make changes of morphology and microstructure and cell loss in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neuron.