Abstract
The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is an excellent model of essential hypertensive disease. Hyperreactivity has been postulated as a contributing factor in the development of high blood pressure in the SHR and in man. In the maturing organism recurring hypertensive stress responses may promote permanent vascular changes and result in a fixed hypertension. Simple behavioral activity and emotionality rating scales were used to compare a large number of SHR with equally large groups of closely-related and distantly-related normotensive rats. As predicted, the SHR were clearly more active and emotional than their ancestral Wistar Kyoto (WKY) strain. However, the distantly-related normotensive Wistars did not differ from the SHR in either activity or emotionality. These results indicate that behavior and hypertension are not necessarily related in the rat. Nonetheless, the behavioral differences between the SHR and their closest genetic match, the WKY, suggest that arousal and blood pressure levels may be causally linked in this case of naturally occurring hypertension.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benson, H.: Systemic hypertension and the relaxation response. N. Engl. J. Med.296, 1152–1156, 1977.
Campbell, R. J. and DiCara, L. V.: Running-wheel avoidance behavior in the Wistar/Kyoto spontaneously hypertensive rat. Physiol. Behav.19, 473–480, 1977.
Cobb, S. and Rose, R. M.: Hypertension, peptic ulcer, and diabetes in air traffic controllers. J.A.M.A.224, 489–492, 1973.
Eichelman, B., DeJong, W. and Williams, R. B.: Aggressive behavior in hypertensive and normotensive rat strains. Physiol. Behav.10, 301–304, 1973.
Falk, J. L., Tang, M. and Forman, S.: Scheduleinduced chronic hypertension. Psychosom. Med.39, 252–263, 1977.
Folkow, B.: The haemodynamic consequences of adaptive structural changes of the resistance vessels in hypertension. Clin. Sci.41, 1–12, 1971.
Friedman, R. and Iwai, J.: Genetic predisposition and stress-induced hypertension. Science193, 161–162, 1976.
Galosy, R. A. and Gaebelein, C. J.: Cardiovascular adaptation to environmental stress: its role in the development of hypertension, responsible mechanisms, and hypotheses. Biobehav. Rev.1, 165–175, 1977.
Hallbäck, M. and Folkow, B.: Cardiovascular responses to acute mental ‘stress’ in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Acta Physiol. Scand.90, 684–698, 1974.
Hallbäck, M.: Consequences of social isolation on blood pressure, cardiovascular reactivity and design in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Acta Physiol. Scand.93, 455–465, 1975.
Henry, J. P.: Understanding the early pathophysiology of essential hypertension. Geriatrics31, 59–72, 1976.
Iriuchijima, J.: Sympathetic discharge rate in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Jpn. Heart J.14, 350–356, 1973.
Judy, W. V., Watanabe, A. M., Henry, D. P., Besch, H. R., Murphy, W. R. and Hockel, G. M.: Sympathetic nerve activity: Role in regulation of blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Circ. Res.38 (No. 6, Suppl. II): II-21 to II-29, 1976.
King, F. A.: Effects of septal and amygdaloid lesions on emotional behavior and conditioned avoidance responses in the rat. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis.126, 57–63, 1958.
McCarty, R., Chiueh, C. C. and Kopin, I. J.: Behavioral and cardiovascular responses of spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats to inescapable footshock. Behav. Biol.22, 405–410, 1978.
Okamoto, K. and Aoki, K.: Development of a strain of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Jpn. Cire. J.27, 282–293, 1963.
Okamoto, K., Nosaka, S., Yamori, Y. and Matsumoto, M.: Participation of neural factors in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Jpn. Heart J.8, 168–180, 1967.
Pappas, B. A., Peters, D. A. V., Saari, M., Sobrian, S. K. and Minch, E.: Neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine sympathectomy in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rat. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.2, 381–386, 1974.
Rapp, J. P.: Hypertension in the young rat.In New, M. I., and Levine, L. S. (eds.),Juvenile Hypertension. New York, Raven Press, 1977, pp. 79–87.
Saavedra, J. M., Grobecker, H. and Axelrod, J.: Adrenaline-forming enzyme in brainstem: Elevation in genetic and experimental hypertension. Science191, 483–484, 1976.
Sasagawa, S. and Yamori, Y.: Quantitative analysis on the behavior of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and stroke-prone SHR. Jpn. Heart J.16, 313–315, 1975.
Tilson, H. A., Chamberlain, J. H., Gylys, J. A. and Buyniski, J. P.: Behavioral suppressant effects of clonidine in strains of normotensive and hypertensive rats. Eur. J. Pharmacol.43, 99–105, 1977.
Yamori, Y., Matsumoto, M., Yamabe, H. and Okamoto, K.: Augmentation of spontaneous hypertension by chronic stress in rats. Jpn. Circ. J.33, 399–409, 1969.
Yamori, Y.: Pathogenesis of spontaneous hypertension as a model for essential hypertension. Jpn. Circ. J.41, 259–266, 1977.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported in part by grant HL-05351 from the National Institutes of Health, a University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Institutional Award, and the Medical Research Services of the Veterans Administration.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schaefer, C.F., Brackett, D.J., Gunn, C.G. et al. Behavioral hyperreactivity in the spontaneously hypertensive rat compared to its normotensive progenitor. Pay. J. Biol. Sci. 13, 211–216 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03002256
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03002256