ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Duration-Dependent Post-Trauma Sleep Deprivation Differentially Modulates PTSD-Like Anxiety and Oxidative Markers in Mice

Benneth Ben-Azu 1
Ayereoghene S. Moses
Saviour G. Usin
Mega O. Oyovwi
Itivere A. Omogbiya

1Delta State University

DOI: 10.4314/
Published: December 1, 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by intrusive memories and persistent hyperarousal, with sleep playing a critical role in traumatic memory consolidation. While normal sleep supports memory refinement, post-trauma sleep disruption may shift outcomes toward fear retention or extinction. This study examined the duration-specific effects of post-trauma sleep deprivation (SD) on PTSD-like behaviors and oxidative neurobiological alterations.

Materials and Methods: Male Swiss mice (n = 10 per group) were subjected to the single prolonged stress (SPS) protocol, restraint, forced swimming, and ether exposure followed by varied SD regimens: no SD, daily SD for 2, 4, or 8 hours over 7 days, or a single 24-hour deprivation. Anxiety-related behavior was assessed using the light-dark box test. Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and sulphite oxidase (SO), were quantified in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Results: Brief SD (2-4 h daily) mitigated SPS-induced anxiety-like responses, increased GST activity, and normalized SO hyperactivity, suggesting interference with aversive memory consolidation and enhanced antioxidant defense. In contrast, prolonged daily SD (8 h) intensified anxiety and depleted antioxidant capacity, whereas a single 24-hour SD produced partial behavioral recovery with variable oxidative outcomes.

Conclusion: Post-trauma SD exerts duration-dependent, biphasic effects on PTSD-relevant behaviors and redox homeostasis. Limited SD promotes adaptive modulation by disrupting traumatic memory stabilization and enhancing antioxidant resilience, whereas extended deprivation aggravates oxidative imbalance and anxiety-like symptomatology.

Keywords

Post-traumatic stress disorder Anxiety-like behaviour, Oxidative stress Single prolonged Stress Sleep deprivation Anxiety-like behaviour Traumatic memory processing
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Data Availability

Will be made available upon reasonable request

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Published in Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): African Journal of Tropical Medicine and Biomedical Research, December 2025.

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Ben-Azu B, Moses AS, Usin SG, Oyovwi MO, Itivere AO. Duration-Dependent Post-Trauma Sleep Deprivation Differentially Modulates PTSD-Like Anxiety and Oxidative Markers in Mice. Afr. J. Trop. Med. Biomed. Res. [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1 [cited 2026 May 31];8(2):61-70. Available from: https://www.ajtmbr.org.ng/index.php/home/article/view/177
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