[Effect of hormone-induced stress and high altitude on the higher nervous activity of rats]

The hormonally induced stresses have been studied for their effect on higher nervous activity (HNA) of rats under conditions of low-(1760 m above the sea level) and highland (3200 m above the sea level). Hydrocortisone-induced stress (HIS) in mountains decreases to an optimal degree the latent period (LP) of conditioned reflex of active avoidance (CRAA) and strengthens differentiating inhibition (DI). In mountains and on plain it impedes appearance of extinctive inhibition (EI). DOCA-induced stress (DIS) has the same effect though in the emergency period of adaptation it sharply (unlike GIS) increases the number of cases of CRAA amnesia manifestation and prolongs their LP. ACTH-induced stress (AIS) makes the appearance of amnesia cases more frequent and prolongs LP of realized CRAA, unlike DIS, over all the periods of Alpine adaptation. However, DI strengthens, while EI is hindered irrespective of the altitude level. Injection stress in mountains occurs with deviations of HNA; the number of cases of the CRAA amnesia increases as well as differentiation disinhibition. DI fails rapidly being tested for strength. Adaptation of intact rats to highland occurs faithfully without essential changes of LP but with impeded development of EI.