Evaluating the Suitability of the Rat Footshock Model for Studying Gut-Brain Interactions and IBS-Related Gene Expression in PTSD Research

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that has been associated with changes in gut microbiota and intestinal function. However, the molecular mechanisms driving these changes are not fully understood, and there is a need for an appropriate animal model to study the gut-brain axis in PTSD. The rat PTSD model, induced by footshock stress, is commonly used to simulate PTSD-like behaviors and physiological responses. This study aims to assess whether this model accurately reflects the alterations in gut gene expression and microbiota composition that are observed in PTSD.