Behavioral Characteristics of Two Rat Strains Deffering in Sensitivity to the Cardiotoxic Effect of Isoprenalice

Abstract

Behavioral pattern was studied in two inbred strains of rats which have different responses to stress. These strains were originally developed from a randomly bred Wistar rat colony, according to high or low myocardial cells sensitivity to cardiotoxic effect of isoprenaline. One strain is very sensitive to isoprenaline cardiotoxicity (IS = isoprenaline sensitive) the other strain is more resistant (IR = isoprenaline resistant). In the IR strain the immobilization immersion stress causes high incidence of gastric ulcers, while the IS strain is prone to heart pathology. In this communication we report the differences in behavior of these two rat lines in three tests: open field, intruder's test and Porsolt's forced swimming test. The IS animals were passive and anxious in open field test, submissive in intruders test and they showed more floating time in Porsolt's forced swimming test. The IR rats were active, aggressive and dominant.

The Influence of Repeated Prestressors on Single Stress Response in Rats

“…Heart lesions after 1 mg ¡ kg ª1 of isoprenaline (accumulation index of 203 Hg) more less Mráz et al (1986) Heart lesions after water immersion restraint stress (accumulation index of 203 Hg) more less Starec et al (1994) Gastric ulcers after water immersion restraint stress (ulcer index) less more Starec et al (1994) Heart glycogen less more Mráz et al (1995) Severity of adjuvant arthritis less more Starec et al (1994) Open field -walking less more Rasková et al (1996) Open field -freezing more less Rasková et al (1996) Aggressive behaviour -intruder test less more Starec et al (1994) behavioural and pathophysiological differences observed were established repeatedly during different seasons of the year (Mráz et al 1995;Rasková et al 1996;Starec et al 1996).…”