The Abnormal Open-Field Behavior of SART-Stressed Rats and Effects of Some Drugs on It

Abstract

Abstract-Aspart of an investigation on the behavioral characteristics of SART stressed animals, an animal model of autonomic imbalance, the open-field behavior of SARI-stressed (repeated cold-stressed) rats was studied and compared with that of rats exposed to other types of stress.In addition, the effects of several drugs on it were also studied.As compared with normal rats, SART-stressed rats exhibited increased locomotor activity, rearing and center-field penetration, together with decreased grooming and increased defecation, whereas they showed no sig nificant changes in spontaneous movements in the daytime as measured by an Animex activity meter. These behavioral abnormalities were remarkably different from those due to 1-hr cold, 48-hr cold and repeated restraint stresses. These abnormal forms of open-field behavior due to SART stress were considerably inhibited by chlorpromazine, imipramine and neurotropin at doses having no corresponding influence on normal rats; and they were partially inhibited by al prazolam, diazepam and carpipramine at doses exerting considerable influence on normal rats. The above results show that SARI-stressed rats exhibit open-field behavioral abnormalities that are different from those of rats exposed to other types of stress.Such abnormalities include excessive activity, which is considered to be caused by excessive emotionality.

The aqueous crude extract of Montanoa frutescens produces anxiolytic-like effects similarly to diazepam in Wistar rats: Involvement of GABAA receptor

“…Reduction of grooming behavior is prevented by anxiolytic drugs, returning it to values of unstressed animals (Hata et al, 1988;D'Aquila et al, 2000). This effect is considered as an additional indicator of an anxiolytic-like effect at experimental level and can be produced by diazepam and others substances with well-characterized anxiolytic potency (Hata et al, 1988;Rodríguez-Landa et al, 2009b).…”

Anxiolytic and Sedative Effects of Extracts and Essential Oil from Citrus aurantium L.

“…In this experimental procedure, ambulation and rearing activities are accepted as indicators of exploratory behavior, while grooming and freezing are measures of emotionality. 11,19) Thus, the lack of alteration of these behaviors suggests that EOP does not affect the exploratory behavior or the emotionality. In addition, like the controls, treated animals showed habituation behavior after successive open-field exposure, which was more evident in the exploratory behaviors (ambulation and rearing).…”

A Role for Corticotropin-Releasing Factor in Repeated Cold Stress-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior during Forced Swimming and Elevated Plus-Maze Tests in Mice

“…SART-stressed animals exhibit abnormal behavior in openfield, 27) step-down 28) and FS tests. 14,15) The open-field behavior observed in SART-stressed rats, increases in locomotor activity, rearing and defecation and decrease in grooming, was partially inhibited by anxiolytics such as diazepam and alprazolam.…”