Behaviour of the transgenic (mREN2)27 rat.
The first model of genetically engineered hypertension, the transgenic rat TGR (mREN2)27, provides a unique opportunity to study the behavioural effects of an altered brain renin-angiotensin system. The TGR (mREN2)27 rats, characterised by fulminant hypertension, show differences in both the peripheral and central angiotensin systems. The behaviour of male transgenic TGR (mREN2)27 and male Sprague-Dawley rats were determined by 4 behavioural tests. While on the elevated X-maze the TGR (mREN2)27 rat showed a greater 'anxiogenic' profile (fewer open arm entries) than the control Sprague-Dawley rats, this 'anxiogenic' profile increased further during a second exposure to the elevated X-maze 24 h later. In comparison the behaviour of the male Sprague-Dawley rats was not different between the two exposures to the elevated X-maze. Locomotor activity did not differ between either the TGR (mREN2)27 or Sprague-Dawley rats when placed in a 1 m2 open-field for 10 min. A short period of fluid-deprivation (3 h) reversed the 'anxiogenic' profile of the TGR (mREN2)27 on the elevated X-maze. Administration of captopril (20 mg . kg-1 body weight) in the drinking water of the TGR (mREN2)27 rats and Sprague-Dawley rats reversed the anxiogenic profile of the TGR (mREN2)27 rat on the elevated X-maze but did not alter the behaviour of the Sprague-Dawley rats.
Wilson
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Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Nottingham University, Queen's Medical Centre, UK. wwilson@physci.ucla.edu
Voigt
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Bader
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Marsden
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CA
Fink
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D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D004326:Drinking / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002216:Captopril