Premium
The Effects of Peripheral Chemosympathectomy and Adrenalectomy Upon Blood Pressure Responses of the Rat to Footshock Under Varying Conditions: Evidence for Behavioral Effects on Patterning of Sympathetic Nervous System Responses
Author(s) -
Williams Redford B.,
Eichelman Burr S.,
Ng L. K. Y.
Publication year - 1979
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/j.1469-8986.1979.tb01450.x
Subject(s) - sympathetic nervous system , blood pressure , stimulus (psychology) , epinephrine , adrenalectomy , norepinephrine , peripheral , psychology , endocrinology , medicine , catecholamine , autonomic nervous system , heart rate , neuroscience , dopamine , psychotherapist
ABSTRACT A significant decrease in blood pressure is observed after shock‐induced fighting in intact rats. In rats treated with intravenous 6‐hydroxydopamine, a drug that selectively destroys peripheral sympathetic nerve endings when given by this route, this blood pressure response is reversed to a significant increase. In contrast, adrenalectomy converts a slight increase in blood pressure after intact rats are shocked alone in the cage into a significant decrease. These alterations in blood pressure response suggest that the sympathetic response to a stressful stimulus is not an all or none response, but, rather, consists of a patterned activation depending upon the behavioral response available. The current physiological findings are consistent with neuroendocrine research in which coping behavior is found associated with a predominant norepinephrine release by the sympathetic nervous system, and stress without available coping responses is associated with release also of epinephrine.