Maternal aggression as a model for acute social stress in the rat

A behavioral-electrocardiographic study

Bibliographic Data

ID11105802
AuthorsAndrea Sgoifo (0000-0002-9428-6198, University of Parma, corresponding author), Donatella Stilli (University of Parma), Stefano Parmigiani (0000-0002-6658-2029, University of Parma), Beatrice Aimi (University of Parma), Ezio Musso (University of Parma)
Year1995
Volume21
Issue1
Pages79-89
Publication date1995-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAggressive Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0096-140X • E-ISSN: 1098-2337
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/1098-2337(1995)21:1<79::aid-ab2480210110>3.0.co;2-m
OpenAlexW2085801691
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

Maternal aggression of lactating rats was used to induce acute social stress in a resident-intruder paradigm. Behavioral and electrocardiographic responses of male intruders were simultaneously recorded. Cardiac electrical activity was measured by means of a telemetry system which ensured preservation of intruder's behavioral repertoire. Behavioral response to maternal attack was evaluated in terms of percent time spent in passive/submissive (p/s) and active/non-submissive (a/ns) patterns. This allowed us to classify the intruders as submissive, non-submissive, and intermediates. During the test, a significant decrease of average R-R interval (R-R) compared to baseline conditions and the occurrence of arrythmias of different nature were found. Ventricular arrhythmias, including premature ventricular beats and ventricular tachycardias, were present in all the intruders while R-R fluctuations and II degree atrioventricular (A-V) blocks only appeared in submissive and intermediate rats. Most ventricular arrhythmias occurred within the upper range of heart rate and were preceded by periods of low R-R variability. These electrocardiographic events were temporally associated with a/ns behavioral patterns and were related to an increased prevalence of sympathetic activity. On the other hand, R-R fluctuations and II degree A-V blocks preceded by high R-R variability were synchronized with p/s behavior and were ascribed to a predominant inhibitory effect of vagal activation which becomes more pronounced as the level of sympathetic activity increases. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Aggression · Anesthesia · Blood pressure · Cardiology · Developmental psychology · Heart rate · Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior · Psychology · Stress Responses and Cortisol

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