title: Stroking of the abdomen causes decreased locomotor activity in conscious male rats.
abstract: The specific aim of the present study was to determine if stroking in conscious rats can influence spontaneous locomotor behavior in an open-field arena. For this purpose, conscious rats were held across the scapula and the ventral side of the abdomen was stroked at a pressure of 100-150 mm H2O and at a speed of approximately 20 cm/s. The stimulation frequency was approximately 40 strokes/min and the duration 2, 5, and 10 min. Animals held for 10 min served as controls. There was a significant decrease in rearing and locomotion and a significant increase in peripheral activity in the open-field arena after the treatment. Maximal effects were obtained after 5 min of stroking. These effects were consistent with a stroking-induced sedative effect similar to that seen in this open-field arena model following neuroleptics or large doses of oxytocin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uvnäs-Moberg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alster
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lundeberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurosawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahlenius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley