Body surface temperature of rats reveals both magnitude and sex differences in the acute stress response

Wongsaengchan, Chanakarn; McCafferty, Dominic J.; Evans, Neil P.; McKeegan, Dorothy; Nager, Ruedi G.

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114138

Cited by 4 publications

(24 citation statements)

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“…All thermal image sequences were extracted using FLIR ThermaCAM Researcher Pro 2.10™ (FLIR Systems Inc). The tail was the ROI used as it displays the most informative body surface temperatures in rats (Wongsaengchan et al 2023 ). The emissivity of bare skin is 0.98 (McCafferty 2007 ), the air temperature and relative humidity at the nearest 5 min and the distance between the object and the camera (55 cm) were inputted into the software.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For each selected thermal image, a line along the middle of the entire length of the tail was delineated manually using the ThermaCAM drawing tool ‘bendable line’ and ( Figure 2[a] ) eye temperature was also recorded and will be reported elsewhere. From the delineated tail we extracted the maximum temperature and then plotted the maximum temperature difference from baseline against time to produce the thermal response curve that we then compared between treatment groups and sexes (for a justification of sampling intervals and extracting maximum temperatures, see Wongsaengchan et al 2023 ). The tail thermal curve properties ( Figure 2[b] ) of each individual rat were also extracted for analysis as the dynamic response also exhibited the five curve properties and these were reported to be sensitive to arousal magnitude of negative stimuli, especially the rate of recovery (Wongsaengchan et al 2023 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From the delineated tail we extracted the maximum temperature and then plotted the maximum temperature difference from baseline against time to produce the thermal response curve that we then compared between treatment groups and sexes (for a justification of sampling intervals and extracting maximum temperatures, see Wongsaengchan et al 2023 ). The tail thermal curve properties ( Figure 2[b] ) of each individual rat were also extracted for analysis as the dynamic response also exhibited the five curve properties and these were reported to be sensitive to arousal magnitude of negative stimuli, especially the rate of recovery (Wongsaengchan et al 2023 ). If there was new defaecation or urination visible in the thermal images as an area on the substrate that was warmer than the surrounding at that sampling time-point, this was collectively termed ‘Elimination.’

Figure 2.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, changes in body surface temperature measured with infra-red thermography have been used to non-invasively detect negative affective states in many endothermic species (for a review, see Travain & Valsecchi 2021 ). In systematic validation work, IRT has also been shown to be useful for quantifying arousal intensity of restraint stressors in hens ( Gallus gallus domesticus ) (Herborn et al 2015 ) and in laboratory Wistar rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) (Wongsaengchan et al 2023 ). However, less is known about ANS responses to positive affective states, although some responses have been reported to be valence-specific (Kreibig 2010 ; Shiota et al 2011 ; Wilhelm et al 2017 ; Ishii & Shinya 2021 ), including skin temperature responses (Kreibig 2010 ; Ioannou et al 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…play and anticipation) are not available, such as during open-field IRT filming, the simplest spontaneous approach and avoidance behaviour may be used to gauge the general valence (negative/positive) of a stimulus: while freezing, darting, attacking behaviours may reflect negative emotions, exploratory and consumptive behaviours may indicate specific, object-directed positive emotions (Paul et al 2005 ). The use of spontaneous approach and avoidance behaviour was used in our previous study to validate IRT responses, cross-validated with hormonal and behavioural responses (Wongsaengchan et al 2023 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats

Wongsaengchan,

McCafferty,

Lennox

et al. 2023

Anim. welf.

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With recent increased focus on positive welfare in animal welfare science, there is demand for objective positive welfare indicators. It is unclear whether changes in body surface temperature can be used to non-invasively identify and quantify positive states in mammals. We recorded continuous measurements of tail surface temperature using infra-red thermography (IRT) and concurrent behavioural observations in male and female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). If tail surface temperature can differentiate between positive and negative experiences, we expect a qualitatively different response compared to negative experiences. Three groups of rats were presented with increasing magnitudes of food rewards (neutral/none, one and three rewards). The rats were placed in an arena to which they were habituated and filmed for 30 s before and 30 min after exposure to different rewards. Tail temperature initially decreased from the pre-reward baseline and subsequently returned towards baseline temperature. The overall pattern of the change was the same as for rats subjected to negative stimuli in previous studies. Nevertheless, dynamic changes in tail temperature, specifically the rate of recovery and the behavioural response (exploration), differed between neutral and rewarded rats but failed to distinguish reward magnitude. Sex differences were found in both thermal and behavioural responses, unrelated to reward magnitudes. Female rats exhibited a greater initial response with a slower recovery than male rats, emphasising the value of using of both sexes in animal welfare research. This study improves our understanding of the effects of positive emotions induced by food reward on peripheral body temperature and behaviour.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Figure 2.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats

Wongsaengchan,

McCafferty,

Lennox

et al. 2023

Anim. welf.

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Coping switches stress–evoked network disconnection to a new forebrain network state

Durieux,

Herbeaux,

Totah

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Coping with stress is critical to maintaining mental and physical health. Acute stress is associated with changes in neuronal activity across many brain regions and with the reorganization of cross– region correlations in neurovascular coupling. How neuronal activity itself is coordinated across regions during stress, and how neuronal networks are modified during coping, are unknown. We recorded in rats local field potentials (LFPs) simultaneously from five stress–responsive regions during stress and stress–coping behavior. We characterized network activity by computing cross– region coherence, Granger causality, and phase–amplitude coupling on bipolar derivatives of LFPs in the lateral habenula, basolateral amygdala, dorsal hippocampus, prelimbic cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. First, we established a stress–coping model in rats. We showed that the behavioral response to acute 10–minute restraint stress returned to baseline after a second restraint 3 hours later. The pre–stress state was characterized by robust global network interactions in the theta (6– 9 Hz) and gamma (45–65 Hz) bands. Stress exposure led to nearly complete loss of connectivity. During coping, the robust connectivity reemerged, but in a new pattern compared to the pre–stress state. Finally, we found that baseline, stressed, and coping states can be predicted with high accuracy (> 90 %) from network activity. Overall, we showed that the acutely stressed brain state was primarily a state of network disconnection, while coping was a new network state rather than a return to baseline.

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It's cool to be stressed: body surface temperatures track sympathetic nervous system activation during acute stress

Jerem,

Romero

2023

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The acute stress response can be considered the primary evolutionary adaptation to maximise fitness in the face of unpredictable environmental challenges. However, the difficulties of assessing physiology in natural environments mean comparatively little is known about how response variation influences fitness in free-living animals. Currently, determining acute stress physiology typically involves blood sampling or cardiac monitoring. Both require trapping and handling, interrupting natural behaviour, and potentially biasing our understanding toward trappable species/individuals. Importantly, limits on repeated sampling also restrict response phenotype characterisation, vital for linking stress with fitness. Surface temperature dynamics resulting from peripheral vasomotor activity during acute stress are increasingly promoted as alternative physiological stress indicators, which can be measured non-invasively using infrared thermal imaging, overcoming many limitations of current methods. Nonetheless, which aspects of stress physiology they represent remains unclear, as the underlying mechanisms are unknown. To date, validations have primarily targeted the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, when the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system is likely the primary driver of vasomotor activity during acute stress. To address this deficit, we compared eye and bill region surface temperatures – measured using thermal imaging – with SAM system activity – measured as heart-rate-variability via electrocardiogram telemetry – in wild-caught captive house sparrows (Passer domesticus), during capture and handling. We found lower body surface temperatures were associated with increased sympathetic nervous system activation. Consequently, our data confirm body surface temperatures can act as a proxy for sympathetic activation during acute stress, providing potentially transformative opportunities for linking the acute stress response with fitness in the wild.

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Body surface temperature of rats reveals both magnitude and sex differences in the acute stress response

Cited by 4 publications

References 168 publications

Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats

Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats

Coping switches stress–evoked network disconnection to a new forebrain network state

It's cool to be stressed: body surface temperatures track sympathetic nervous system activation during acute stress

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