Alleviating effects of plant-derived fragrances on stress-induced hyperthermia in rats.
In the present study, the effects of exposure to plant-derived odors on the autonomic and behavioral responses to novel environment were examined in rats. Male rats (n=42) carrying a telemetry transmitter were individually housed, and on the test day each rat was transferred to a new cage containing bedding that had been sprayed immediately before testing with 200 microl of 0.03% dilution of either lavender essential oil, green leaf odor (a mixture of hexenol and hexenal), alpha-pinene, or solvent (triethyl citrate) as a control. Following the transfer to this novel environment, the body temperature of the rats increased by nearly 1 degrees C, showing a stress-induced hyperthermia. Stress-induced hyperthermia was attenuated by the green odor and the alpha-pinene, but not by the lavender or solvent. There was no clear effect of fragrances on heart rate or behavioral responses. These results suggest that plant-derived fragrances, such as green odor and alpha-pinene, have calming effects on autonomic stress response to novel environments.
Akutsu
Hitomi
H
Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8657, Tokyo, Japan.
Kikusui
Takefumi
T
Takeuchi
Yukari
Y
Sano
Kota
K
Hatanaka
Akikazu
A
Mori
Yuji
Y
D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004777:Environment; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D010938:Plant Oils; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013686:Telemetry
D010938:Plant Oils