Dynamics of Sstr4 expression during chronic stress loading and its potential as a chronic stress marker

The somatostatin 4 receptor (Sstr4) is a type of somatostatin receptor that has been indicated to be associated with anxiolytic and depression-like behavior. It has recently been indicated that chronic stress or multiple stress loads may be associated with mental illness (e.g., anxiety disorder, mood disorder) and depressive behavior by various mechanisms. Based on this, it was hypothesized that the expression of Sstr4 may fluctuate even during chronic stress, reflecting mental illnesses (e.g., anxiety disorders, mood disorders) and depressive behavior that are caused by chronic stress. In other words, we hypothesized that Sstr4 could be a marker for diagnosing chronic stress, and to that end, we examined this receptor.