Behavioral, Ventilatory and Thermoregulatory Responses to Hypercapnia and Hypoxia in the Wistar Audiogenic Rat (WAR) Strain

Author(s)

Granjeiro, Erica Maria ^{[1, 2]} ; da Silva, Glauber S. F. ^{[1, 3]} ; Giusti, Humberto ^[1] ; Oliveira, Jose Antonio ^[1] ; Glass, Mogens Lesner ^[1] ; Garcia-Cairasco, Norberto ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Sch Med, Dept Physiol, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Feira de Santana UEFS, Dept Ciencias Biol DCBIO, Av Transnordestina S-N, BR-44036900 Feira De Santana, BA - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP FCAV, Dept Morphol & Anim Physiol, Via Acesso Prof Paulo D Castellane S-N, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 11, n. 5 MAY 5 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

Introduction We investigated the behavioral, respiratory, and thermoregulatory responses elicited by acute exposure to both hypercapnic and hypoxic environments in Wistar audiogenic rats (WARs). The WAR strain represents a genetic animal model of epilepsy. Methods Behavioral analyses were performed using neuroethological methods, and flowcharts were constructed to illustrate behavioral findings. The body plethysmography method was used to obtain pulmonary ventilation (VE) measurements, and body temperature (Tb) measurements were taken via temperature sensors implanted in the abdominal cavities of the animals. Results No significant difference was observed between the WAR and Wistar control group with respect to the thermoregulatory response elicited by exposure to both acute hypercapnia and acute hypoxia (p>0.05). However, we found that the VE of WARs was attenuated relative to that of Wistar control animals during exposure to both hypercapnic (WAR: 133 +/- 11% vs. Wistar: 243 +/- 23%, p<0.01) and hypoxic conditions (WAR: 138 +/- 8% vs. Wistar: 177 +/- 8%; p<0.01). In addition, we noted that this ventilatory attenuation was followed by alterations in the behavioral responses of these animals. Conclusions Our results indicate that WARs, a genetic model of epilepsy, have important alterations in their ability to compensate for changes in levels of various arterial blood gasses. WARs present an attenuated ventilatory response to an increased PaCO2 or decreased PaO2, coupled to behavioral changes, which make them a suitable model to further study respiratory risks associated to epilepsy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 05/56447-7 - Research through images from high field magnetic resonance aimed at studies in humans
• Grantee: João Pereira Leite
• Support Opportunities: Inter-institutional Cooperation in Support of Brain Research (CINAPCE) - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/17606-9 - Serotonin and respiratory control in vertebrates
• Grantee: Glauber dos Santos Ferreira da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants