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Behavioral hyperreactivity in the spontaneously hypertensive rat compared to its normotensive progenitor
The Pavlovian Journal of Biological Science
|October 1, 1978
Summary
Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit higher activity and emotionality than their close Wistar Kyoto (WKY) relatives. This suggests a potential causal link between arousal and blood pressure in naturally occurring hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Behavioral Science
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) serves as a key model for essential hypertension.
- Hyperreactivity is a proposed factor in the development of high blood pressure in both SHR and humans.
- Chronic stress responses may lead to permanent vascular changes and fixed hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between behavioral traits and hypertension in rats.
- To compare the activity and emotionality levels of SHR with closely and distantly related normotensive rat strains.
Main Methods:
- Utilized simple behavioral activity and emotionality rating scales.
- Compared large groups of SHR with equally large groups of Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats and distantly related normotensive Wistar rats.
Main Results:
- SHR demonstrated significantly higher activity and emotionality compared to their ancestral WKY strain.
- No significant differences in activity or emotionality were observed between SHR and distantly related normotensive Wistar rats.
- Behavioral differences between SHR and WKY suggest a link between arousal and blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- Behavior and hypertension are not universally linked in rats.
- The heightened arousal in SHR compared to WKY rats indicates a potential causal relationship between arousal and naturally occurring hypertension.