Behavioral changes induced in rats by exposure to trimethylthiazoline, a component of fox odor.
Trimethylthiazoline (TMT), a component of fox feces, has been used in various studies as a natural predator stimulus to induce autonomic and behavioral signs of fear (e.g., higher levels of stress hormones, freezing, and risk assessment). The present study investigated whether 2 further behavioral signs of fear are induced in rats by TMT exposure: potentiation of the acoustic startle response and inhibition of appetitive behavior. In addition, the authors tested the rats for dose dependency of TMT-induced freezing behavior. The study confirmed that behavioral changes observed during TMT exposure are caused by TMT-induced fear and are dose dependent.
Endres
Thomas
T
Tierphysiologie, Zoologisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. thomas.endres@uni-tuebingen.de
Apfelbach
Raimund
R
Fendt
Markus
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005589:Foxes; D046352:Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009812:Odorants; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013844:Thiazoles