title: Alleviating effects of plant-derived fragrances on stress-induced hyperthermia in rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8657, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akutsu
authors.forename: Takefumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikusui
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Kota
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Akikazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils