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Blockade of parasympathetic regulation of the heart induces depressive behaviors
Author(s) -
Scotti Melissa L,
Bates Suzanne L,
Wardwell Joshua,
McNeal Neal,
Chandler Danielle L,
Grippo Angela J
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.645.4
The relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease may be mediated by disruption of autonomic balance. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are an ideal system in which to test this possibility because they show similar autonomic regulation of the heart to humans. This work investigated the potential that selective blockade of the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) nervous systems would differentially affect behavioral responses to a stressor in this system. We hypothesized that PNS blockade would lead to an exaggerated stress response during a task measuring behavioral depression, due to increased sympathetic tone. 24 male voles received i.p. injections of methylatropine (PNS blockade; n = 8), atenolol (SNS blockade; n = 8), or vehicle (n = 8), followed by a 5 minute tail suspension test (TST) to investigate active coping behaviors vs. immobility. Preliminary analyses indicate that atropine increases immobility time during the TST relative to the other treatments, suggesting a depressive behavior. The data suggest that reduced parasympathetic tone may ultimately result in depression‐like responses to a stressor. Future experiments will utilize radiotelemetry to explore the effects of autonomic blockade on cardiac function as well as correlate the changes that occur in cardiac parameters with behavioral responses to stressors. Support: MH77581, NIU CBBS, NIU Graduate College.