RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL STATUS AND SPONTANEOUS BEHAVIOR IN RATS EXPOSED TO HIGH-PRESSURE

When humans and experimental animals are exposed to increased environm ental pressure, they develop the high pressure neurological syndrome. In the present study, we have investigated the relationship between th e emotional status and the development of pressure-induced behavioral disorders, such as locomotor and motor activity (LMA) and myoclonia, i n two genetically selected lines of rats (Roman low-(RLA/verh) and hig h-(RLA/verh) avoidance), which differ drastically in their level of em otionality. RLA/verh rats presented a greater level of LMA than RHA/Ve rh rats; RLA/Verh rats also showed myoclonia while RHA/Verh rats did n ot. These results are discussed in the light of recent experiments in rats exposed to stressful situations or pressure environment. It is co ncluded that the use of both RLA/Verh and RHA/Verh rats would be of pa rticular interest to better understand the neurochemical and neurologi cal processes underlying the development of LMA and myoclonia in rats exposed to high pressure.