Characteristics of heart rate fluctuations and respiratory movements during orienting, passive avoidance and flight-fight behaviour in rabbits.
In the present study different heart rate patterns were demonstrated to accompany flight-fight behaviour, orienting behaviour and passive avoidance in rabbits. Flight-fight behaviour was characterized by markedly increased heart rate and diminished overall heart rate variability. The effect was mediated by vagal inhibition and beta-adrenergic activation in a type-specific relation. Orienting behaviour was accompanied by a smaller heart rate increase and the exaggeration of slow heart rate fluctuations. The latter effect was absent during beta-adrenergic blockade suggesting a behaviourally provoked beta-adrenergic activation. Single beta-adrenergic blockade did not change the characteristics of the heart rate fluctuations at rest. During passive avoidance a vagally mediated heart rate deceleration was followed by a slow heart rate return toward the initial heart rate level. This level was not reached during beta-adrenergic blockade. The enhanced overall heart rate variability during passive avoidance was mainly caused by strengthened respiratory-induced heart rate fluctuations and, furthermore, by exaggerated slow rhythmical heart rate fluctuations. The latter effect was not observed during beta-adrenergic blockade and is referred to as an orienting component within passive avoidance. Three individual behavioural types may be differentiated in rabbits 'Weisses Gross-Silber' by stable behavioural characteristics i.e. spontaneous motor activities, preferred postures at rest and coping behaviour. The results of the present study suggest that different neurovegetative reaction types, i.e. dominating beta-adrenergic or vagal activation are correlated with stable behavioural characteristics, especially in terms of preferring active or passive coping behaviour, respectively.
Richter
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A
Institute of Pathological Physiology, Jena, G.D.R.
Schumann
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NP
Zwiener
U
U
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004597:Electroshock; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology
D001285:Atropine; D011433:Propranolol