Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2007):

Water temperature determines neurochemical and behavioural responses to forced swim stress: an in vivo microdialysis and biotelemetry study in rats.

Full Abstract

Forced swimming is a behavioural stress model increasingly used to investigate the neurocircuitry of stress responses. Although forced swim stress clearly is a psychological stressor (anxiety, panic), its physical aspects are often neglected. There are indications that behavioural and neurochemical responses to swim stress depend on the water temperature. Thus, we investigated the responsiveness of hippocampal serotonergic neurotransmission (important in the coordination of stress responses), and of behaviour and core body temperature to forced swimming at different water temperatures (19, 25 and 35 degrees C). In vivo microdialysis and biotelemetry in freely-behaving rats were used. Dialysates were analysed for serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Forced swimming in water at 25 and 19 degrees C decreased core body temperature by 8 and 12 degrees C, respectively. A rapid and pronounced increase in hippocampal 5-HT and 5-HIAA was found in rats that swam at 35 degrees C, whereas biphasic responses in 5-HT and 5-HIAA were observed at 25 and 19 degrees C. Also swim stress behaviour and post-stress home cage behaviour depended on the water temperature. Comparing the serotonergic and core body temperature changes revealed that a combination of two different 5-HT and 5-HIAA responses seems to shape the neurotransmitter response. Swimming-induced increases in hippocampal extracellular concentrations of 5-HT and 5-HIAA occurred at all water temperatures, but these increases were temporarily quenched, or concentrations were transistently decreased, when core body temperature fell below 31 degrees C in water at 25 or 19 degrees C. These data demonstrate that water temperature is a key factor determining the impact of forced swim stress on behaviour and neurochemistry, and underscore that changes in these parameters should be interpreted in the light of the autonomic responses induced by this stressor.

Author information

Author/s: Linthorst, Astrid C E (AC); Flachskamm, Cornelia (C); Reul, Johannes M H M (JM);

Affiliation: Section of Neurochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands) (Stress), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-; vol 11 (issue 2) : pp 88-100

Dates: Created 2008/04/10; Completed 2008/05/16; Revised 2008/12/31;

PMID: 17853068, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Behavior, Animal - physiology Body Temperature - physiology Hippocampus - metabolism Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - metabolism Male Microdialysis Motor Activity - physiology

Motor Activity - physiology Rats Rats, Wistar Serotonin - metabolism Stress, Psychological - physiopathology Swimming - psychology Telemetry Temperature

Associated Chemicals: Serotonin (50-67-9) ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (54-16-0)

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