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Auditory startle in normotensive and hypertensive rats
J R Sutterer1, J McSparren, B Ingerman
1Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, New York 13210.
Behavioral and Neural Biology
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Wistar-Kyoto rats showed higher auditory startle responses than spontaneously hypertensive and borderline hypertensive rats. These findings highlight behavioral differences between hypertensive and normotensive rat strains.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Hypertension is associated with altered behavioral and physiological responses.
- Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats are established models for studying hypertension and its effects.
- Borderline hypertensive rats (BHR) offer a unique model to investigate intermediate hypertensive states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate auditory startle responses in different rat strains with varying hypertensive statuses.
- To explore potential strain-specific differences in behavioral reactivity or tonic fear related to hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Auditory startle reflex was measured in male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats (WKY), and borderline hypertensive rats (BHR).
- Startle response magnitude was assessed across multiple trials.
Main Results:
- Auditory startle magnitude decreased over successive trials in all groups.
- WKY rats exhibited significantly higher auditory startle responses compared to both SHR and BHR.
- No significant difference in startle magnitude was observed between SHR and BHR.
Conclusions:
- Normotensive WKY rats display heightened auditory startle reactivity compared to hypertensive SHR and BHR.
- These results support the existence of strain-dependent behavioral differences in rats related to hypertension.
- Findings suggest potential variations in behavioral reactivity or tonic fear mechanisms underlying these differences.