Summary
Changes in the spontaneous activity of 21 rats were studied for 73 days with the help of a revolving wheel.
Natural fluctuations of spontaneous activity of the animals are influenced by variations of barometric pressure. When rises of barometric pressure occur, the spontaneous activity is increased, whereas barometer on the fall tends to produce an opposite effect; however, sudden and important falls in atmospheric pressure may also induce an increased activity, an observation which is discussed in the light of recent results.
These correlations between activity and barometric pressure disappear when animals are shielded from atmospheric ionization by means of grounded cages.
Knowing that atmospheric ionization is depending upon atmospheric pressure variation, one may admit that ionization is the main meteorological factor really effective in the action reported on activity. In other words, changes observed in spontaneous activity of the rat are mediated by variations of air ionization, themselves influenced by changes of atmospheric pressure. These data are in agreement with previous observations, by other authors demonstrating that aeroionization is acting on rat activity.
Finally, the physiological link between these meteorological factors and animal behaviour appears to be a modulation of serotonin metabolism; arguments in favour of this mediation are discussed.
Résumé
L'étude de l'activité spontanée de 21 rats mesurée pendant 73 jours en cage à tambour permet les conclusions suivantes: les fluctuations naturelles de l'activité des animaux sont influencées par les variations de pression atmosphérique. Les hausses de pression barométrique entrainent une augmentation de la motilité spontanée alors que les baisses barométriques tendent à produire un effet inverse; cependant les chutes très brutales de pression provoquent, elles aussi, un surcroit d'activité. Des travaux récents permettent d'interpréter cette apparente contradiction.
Ces corrélations disparaissent si les animaux sont protégés de l'ionisation atmosphérique par des cages reliées à la terre.
Sachant que les variations de pression atmosphérique entrainent des modifications de l'ionisation atmosphérique, on peut donc admettre que cette dernière est en fait le facteur météorologique efficace sur la motilité spontanée, d'autant plus que l'aéro-ionisation est connue comme affectant nettement l'activité du rat.
Enfin, au niveau neurohumoral, la sérotonine semble être l'intermédiaire par lequel l'ionisation intervient sur le comportement.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Bibliographie
Aghajanian, G., Sheard, M.: Behavioral effects of midbrain raphe stimulation dependence of serotonin. Commun. Behav. Biol. Part., 1, 37–41 (1968).
Arnaud, J.-L., Arnaud, Ph., Loisy, C., Kofman, J.: Acquisitions récentes sur la sérotonine. Rev. lyon. Med. 17, 897–923 (1968).
Bogdanski, D. F., Weissbach, H., Udenfriend, S.: Pharmacological studies with the 5-HTP. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 122, 182–186 (1958).
Brody, J. F.: Behavorial effects of serotonin depletion and of p-chlorophenylalanine (a serotonin depletor). Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 17, 14–33 (1970).
Brown, B. B.: CNS drug actions and interaction in mice. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 128, 391–398 (1960).
Brown, F. A., Shriner, J., Ralph, C. L.: Solar and lunar rhythmicity in the rat in “constant conditions” and the mechanism of physiological time measurement. Amer. J. Physiol. 184, 491–494 (1956).
Gaddum, J. H., Vogt, M.: Some central action of 5-HT and various antagonists. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 11, 175–179 (1956).
Giacalone, E., Tasella, M., Valzelli, L., Garattini, S.: Brain serotonin metabolism in isolated aggressive mice. Biochem. Pharmacol. 17, 1315–1317 (1968).
Gumulka, N., Ramirez del Angel, A., Samanin, R., Valzelli, L.: Lesion of substancia nigra: biochemical and behavioral effects in rats. Europ. J. Pharmacol. 10, 79–82 (1970).
Joyce, D., Mrosovsky, N.: Eating, drinking and activity in rats following 5-HTP administration. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 5, 417–423 (1964).
Kostowski, W., Giacalone, E., Garattini, S., Valzelli, L.: Studies on behavioral and biochemical changes in rats after lesion of midbrain raphe. Europ. J. Pharmacol. 4, 371–376 (1968).
Krueger, A. P., Andriese, P. C., Kotaka, S.: Small air ions: their effects on blood levels of serotonin in terms of modern physical theory. Int. J. Biometeor. 12, 225–240 (1968).
—, Kotaka, S.: The effects of air ions on brain levels of serotonin in mice. Int. J. Biometeor. 13, 25–28 (1969).
Mass, J. W.: Neurochemical differences between two strains of mice. Science 137, 621–622 (1962).
Olivereau, J.-M.: Influence de la pression barométrique sur le métabolisme hydrique du Rat albinos. C.R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 161, 1929–1934 (1967).
—: Influence des variations de pression barométrique sur le comportement alimentaire du Rat albinos. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris), Ser. D 270, 393–395 (1970).
—: Influence des ions atmosphériques sur l'activité du Rat albinos. C. R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 164, 956–962 (1970).
- Incidences psychophysiologiques des facteurs climatiques de l'environnement. Bull. Psychol. (sous presse) (1971).
Rosecrans, J. A.: Differences in brain area 5-HT turnover and rearing behavior in rats and mice of both sexes. Europ. J. Pharmacol. 9, 379–382 (1970).
Schreiber, G. O. S.: Space charge and atmospheric pressure. Int. J. Biometeor. 11, Suppl. 3, 323 (1967).
Shiratori, K.: Ionic spectrum of air. Taihoku Sci. Agri. Mem. 15, 1–37 (1935).
Sprott, R. L.: Barometric pressure fluctuation effects on the activity of laboratory mice. Science 157, 1206–1207 (1967).
Tchijewsky, A. L.: Application de l'aéroionisation dans l'économie nationale. [En Russe.] Moscou: Gosplanisdat 1960.
Tyczka, S.: Importance hygiénique des changements de l'ionisation de l'air atmosphérique et leurs relations avec les facteurs cosmométéorologiques. [En Polonais.] Thèse, 139 p. Université de Lodz (1969a).
Tyczka, S.: L'ionisation et la pression atmosphérique dans la région de Wroclaw. [En Polonais.] Bydgosk. Towarz. Nauk., Ser. B 8, 27–69 (1969b).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olivereau, JM. Incidences des variations de la pression barométrique sur l'activité spontanée du rat. Z. vergl. Physiologie 72, 435–441 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300714
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300714