Document Detail


Characteristics of heart rate fluctuations and respiratory movements during orienting, passive avoidance and flight-fight behaviour in rabbits.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  2269651     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In the present study different heart rate patterns were demonstrated to accompany flight-fight behaviour, orienting behaviour and passive avoidance in rabbits. Flight-fight behaviour was characterized by markedly increased heart rate and diminished overall heart rate variability. The effect was mediated by vagal inhibition and beta-adrenergic activation in a type-specific relation. Orienting behaviour was accompanied by a smaller heart rate increase and the exaggeration of slow heart rate fluctuations. The latter effect was absent during beta-adrenergic blockade suggesting a behaviourally provoked beta-adrenergic activation. Single beta-adrenergic blockade did not change the characteristics of the heart rate fluctuations at rest. During passive avoidance a vagally mediated heart rate deceleration was followed by a slow heart rate return toward the initial heart rate level. This level was not reached during beta-adrenergic blockade. The enhanced overall heart rate variability during passive avoidance was mainly caused by strengthened respiratory-induced heart rate fluctuations and, furthermore, by exaggerated slow rhythmical heart rate fluctuations. The latter effect was not observed during beta-adrenergic blockade and is referred to as an orienting component within passive avoidance. Three individual behavioural types may be differentiated in rabbits 'Weisses Gross-Silber' by stable behavioural characteristics i.e. spontaneous motor activities, preferred postures at rest and coping behaviour. The results of the present study suggest that different neurovegetative reaction types, i.e. dominating beta-adrenergic or vagal activation are correlated with stable behavioural characteristics, especially in terms of preferring active or passive coping behaviour, respectively.
Authors:
A Richter; N P Schumann; U Zwiener
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology     Volume:  10     ISSN:  0167-8760     ISO Abbreviation:  Int J Psychophysiol     Publication Date:  1990 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1991-02-21     Completed Date:  1991-02-21     Revised Date:  2003-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8406214     Medline TA:  Int J Psychophysiol     Country:  NETHERLANDS    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  75-83     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathological Physiology, Jena, G.D.R.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Anxiety / psychology
Atropine / pharmacology
Behavior, Animal / drug effects,  physiology*
Electrocardiography
Electroshock
Fear
Female
Heart Rate / drug effects,  physiology*
Models, Biological
Motor Activity / physiology
Orientation / physiology*
Posture
Propranolol / pharmacology
Rabbits
Respiration / physiology*
Wakefulness / physiology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
51-55-8/Atropine; 525-66-6/Propranolol

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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