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Blood pressure, heart rate, and behavioral responses to psychological “novelty” stress in freely moving rats
Author(s) -
Buuse Maarten,
Acker Saskia A.B.E.,
Fluttert Marc,
Kloet E. Ronald
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/1469-8986.3830490
Subject(s) - heart rate , blood pressure , open field , sympathetic nervous system , tachycardia , atenolol , psychology , antagonist , novelty , medicine , anesthesia , receptor , social psychology
We developed a new model of psychological “open‐field” stress in freely moving rats. Blood pressure and heart rate of the rats were measured by radiotelemetry and behavior analyzed by video tracking software. Open‐field exposure induced marked increases in blood pressure and heart rate. Repeated daily exposure induced pressor responses that were slightly higher on Day 4 when compared to Day 1. Pretreatment with the β 1 ‐adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol inhibited the tachycardia whereas the ganglion blocker pentolinium inhibited the pressor response, indicating involvement of the sympathetic nervous system. Pretreatment with diazepam prevented the novelty stress‐induced pressor response and reduced the tachycardia. These results show that the psychological stress of exposing rats to an open field induces marked cardiovascular effects that are mediated by sympathetic hyperactivity. This model is unique in that it focuses on psychological stress and allows concomitant measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, and behavior in freely moving rats.