1998 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages 23-31
The present study examined relationships between rat's hypertension and activity pattern. Behavioral activity of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and Dahl salt-sensitive rat (DS) was measured under the condition of an open-field and a home-cage. Twelve male hypertensive SHR, and 12 male normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were used in the experiment 1. In an open-field, SHRs were more active than those of WKYs. In a home-cage, circadian variations of spontaneous activity in SHRs were smaller and less noticeable than WKYs. Six male hypertensive DSs fed with a high salt diet (NaCl 8%) and 6 male normotensive DSs fed with a low salt diet (NaCl 0.4%) were used in the experiment 2. Although no difference was found in open-field activity, circadian activity variations of hypertensive DSs in a home-cage were found to be smaller in the same manner as that of SHRs. This suggested a relationship between cardiovascular system and regulation of spontaneous activity.
