The shortening speed of the telomere length of peripheral blood leukocytes accelerated in PTSD rats, and the expression levels of TRF1 and TRF2 increased in hippocampus, both of which were closely associated with the pathological progress of PTSD and unfavorable prognosis.

The findings of this study indicated that SPS stress could shorten the telomere length in rats and the shortening speed of telomere length accelerated in the PTSD rats than in the control rats.

The accelerated shortening of telomere length was a direct consequence of life and metal stress.

The expression of TRF1 and TRF2 significantly increased in the hippocampal CA1 region in the PTSD rats, which might lead to the apoptosis of hippocampus or neuronal death.

TRF1 and TRF2 might be involved in the development of hippocampal atrophy as one of the pathological mechanisms of PTSD and unfavorable prognosis.