Question

What does low serum corticosterone, but high plasma ACTH indicate in stressed rats?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

If you want to explore further what's going on in your rats I suggest looking at the dexamathasone suppression test to measure HPA negative feedback (see attached paper).

After almost a month of Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS), both of my control rats (no stress) and stress-model rats exhibit low serum corticosterone concentration. Surprisingly, the level of ACTH in stress-model rats were significantly higher compared to control rats. Is it a common observation

Answer 2

Answer:

After almost a month of Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS), both of my control rats (no stress) and stress-model rats exhibit low serum corticosterone concentration. Surprisingly, the level of ACTH in stress-model rats were significantly higher compared to control rats. Is it a common observation? Because most CUMS literature i found report high corticosterone level in their stressed rats.