THE EFFECT OF HESPERIDIN ON THE HYPOTHALAMUS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS-INDUCED PTSD WISTAR RATS

ABSTRACT Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex of symptoms of disorders in psychical activity, which appear as a result of single or reiterative supra maximal traumatic external exposures on the human psychics. The study aimed to examine the effect of hesperidin on the HPA axis of psychological stress-induced PTSD Wistar rats. Thirty (30) Adult Wistar rats weighing between 160 and 180 grams were divided into 6 groups. Group 1 (Normal Control): received 1ml of 0.9% normal saline saline/distilled water for 42 days, Group 2: (Negative Control): received SPS only for 14 days, Group 3: received SPS + Fluoxetine) 10mg/ (I.p injection once daily) for 14 days of treatment, Group 4:SPS + Hesperidin (Low dose) 5mg/ (I.p injection once daily) for 14 days of treatment, Group 5: SPS + Hesperidin (Medium dose) for 14 days of treatment, Group 6: SPS + Hesperidin (High dose). The result of the study on histological observation of hypothalamus showed that showed that photomicrograph of the GFAP stained hippocampus and Amygdala. The astrocytes showed short and very few astrocytic processes, while the GFAP stained hippocampus and Amygdala. The astrocytes showed multiple astrocytic processes with strong GFAP expression. GFAP stained hippocampus and Amygdala showed very short and very few astrocytic processes with moderate GFAP expression. GFAP Polyclonal antibody technique, x100 x400 magnification. In conclusion, this study demonstrates Hesperidin's ability to modulate the HPA axis and reduce anxiety-like behavior suggests its potential as an adjunctive treatment for PTSD. The histological findings support the hypothesis that hesperidin supplementation can mitigate the detrimental effects of psychological stress on the HPA axis in PTSD Wistar rats.