Figure 5: Contribution of CCR5 in the altered HPA axis during acute and chronic stresses. SD rats underwent traumatic stress, or were subjected to predator scent exposure following trauma (trauma+PSS) for 14 days, and CCR5 was over-expressed using adeno-virus or whose activity was inhibited by frontal cortex injection of maraviroc. (A, B) Hypothalamus was sonicated using a tissue extraction reagent (Invitrogen) supplemented with a protease inhibitor cocktail (Sigma), the homogenate was centrifuged (10 min, 14,000 g, 4°C) and the supernatant was collected; (C-E) cardiac blood was centrifuged (10 min, 14,000 g, 4°C) and CRH release, ACTH and CORT were measured using a competitive immunoassay (Assay Designs, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI). Total protein was quantified using a Bradford assay. (F, G) the core temperature of the rats was recorded daily. Data were normalized and calculated, each value represents the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. *p<0.05 vs. control, #p<0.05 vs. day 1.