Influence of strain on expression and habituation of autonomic and cardiovascular responses to restraint stress in rats.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of rat strain in expression of autonomic and cardiovascular changes during acute exposure to restraint stress, as well as in habituation of these physiological responses upon repeated exposure to restraint. For this, blood pressure, heart rate (HR) and sympathetically-mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction were assessed in Wistar (control strain), Long-Evans, Holtzman and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats during acute or 10 60-min session of restraint stress. We observed that HR returned faster to baseline values during recovery of the acute session of restraint in Long-Evans and SHR rats in relation to Wistar, thus indicating shorter tachycardia in these strains.

Role of corticotropin-releasing factor neurotransmission in the lateral hypothalamus on baroreflex impairment evoked by chronic variable stress in rats.

Despite the importance of physiological responses to stress in a short-term, chronically these adjustments may be harmful and lead to diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The lateral hypothalamus (LH) has been reported to be involved in expression of physiological and behavioral responses to stress, but the local neurochemical mechanisms involved are not completely described. The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurotransmission is a prominent brain neurochemical system implicated in the physiological and behavioral changes induced by aversive threats.

Electroencephalographic evaluation under standing sedation using sublingual detomidine hydrochloride in Egyptian Arabian foals for investigation of epilepsy.

Background: A standardized protocol for electroencephalography (EEG) under standing sedation for the investigation of epilepsy in foals is needed.

Hypothesis/objectives: To evaluate a modified standardized EEG protocol under standing sedation using sublingual detomidine hydrochloride in Egyptian Arabian foals.

Animals: Nineteen foals (controls, 9; juvenile idiopathic epilepsy [JIE], 10).

NMDA receptors in the insular cortex modulate cardiovascular and autonomic but not neuroendocrine responses to restraint stress in rats.

The insular cortex (IC) is a brain structure involved in physiological and behavioural responses during stressful events. However, the local neurochemical mechanisms involved in control of stress responses by the IC are poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the involvement of glutamatergic neurotransmission within the IC in cardiovascular, autonomic and neuroendocrine responses to an acute session of restraint stress.