Studies on the autonomic nervous function in Tsukuba emotional rats--with special reference to their cardiac function

Autonomic nervous function in Tsukuba high (THE) and low (TLE) emotional rats as well as Wistar rats (control) was studied by means of electrocardiographical examination in addition to the runway test. In the runway test, locomotive activity differed significantly among the three strains, the greatest activity in TLE and the smallest in THE. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and locomotive activity were successively recorded for 24 hr using a small size of telemeter system. Though the locomotive activity showed a clear nocturnal rhythm, no significant difference was observed among the three strains. The mean value of R-R intervals in THE tended to be smaller than those in other two strains; showing a significant difference between THE and TLE. The mean value of standard deviation (SD) of R-R intervals in TLE tended to be larger than those in other two strains; showing a significant difference between TLE and Wistar in the light and dark periods, and also between TLE and THE in the light period. As regards coefficients of variation of R-R intervals (CV), there was no significant difference among the three strains. Autonomic nervous tone in THE and TLE was evaluated by means of autonomic blockades using atropine and/or propranolol. The sympathetic nervous tone represented 21.6% in THE and 16.8% in TLE, while the parasympathetic nervous tone -9.0% and -12.3% in THE and TLE, respectively. There was a significant difference in the net autonomic nervous tone between THE (10.7%) and TLE (-6.6%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)