Behavior and body temperature in rats following chronic foot shock or psychological stress exposure

In an attempt to examine stress-induced behavioral disorders, including cir cadian rhythm disturbances, we measured motor activity, feeding, drinking, and body temperature over a 14-day period following a long-term stress expo sure in rats. Male Wistar rats were exposed to foot shock (physical) or non -foot shock stress (psychological) induced by the communication box for 1 h daily over 12 weeks. Two to three months after the termination of the stre ss sessions, motor activity, food intake, water intake, and body temperatur e were measured by means of an automatic behavioral measurement system unde r a 12:12-h light:dark cycle. Motor activity, feeding, and drinking pattern s were not influenced by either of the previous stress exposures. Daily rhy thm of body temperature was also unchanged in either stress group. however, a significant elevation in body temperature (by 0.20 degreesC, p < 0.05) w as observed only in non-foot-shocked rats. The present study suggests that only psychological stress induces an elevation of body temperature followin g the stress exposures; however, long-term stress exposures in the present experiment do not disturb behavioral activities and daily rhythms of behavi ors. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.