Timing of stress and testing influence the long-lasting behavioral performance in rats.
Three exposures (Days 1, 2 and 3) of rats to immobilization or immobilization combined with cold induced an alteration of exploratory behavior in an open space arena. When tested 1h after both stressors exposure, rats displayed a decrease in locomotor and rearing score. The deficit disappeared when rats were tested five days later and the performance remained unchanged in trials performed on days 9, 10, 15, 22 and 29 of the study. When testing was postponed five days after the third stressor exposure, a gradual reduction of the performance developed and the deficit persisted until the last trial on Day 29. Amphetamine, in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg revealed a sensitized response to the drug in the stressed animals. The results showed short- and long-lasting behavioral consequences of the used stressors, the long-term manifestation of the sequelae being dependent on the sequence and timing of stressor exposure and open space testing.
Klenerová
Vera
V
Medical Biochemistry, Laboratory of biochemical Neuropharmacology, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 4, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
Krejcí
Ivan
I
Sída
Pavel
P
Hlinák
Zdenek
Z
Hynie
Sixtus
S
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000379:methods; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D000661:Amphetamine