The Effects of Multiple Thermal Environments on Mother-Infant Contact and Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Location
CSU
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor's Name
Edison Perdomo
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
Hypertension in rats may be reduced by altering neonatal environment. Thermoregulatory controls along with mother-infant reactions are factors responsible for development of adult hypertension. Warmer environmental temperatures were hypothesized to be the most efficient condition for reduced blood pressure measurements. SHR's reared in warmer environments showed lower levels of hypertension than those raised in cool environments. The behavior of the mother is the second factor which can cause hypertension. It was hypothesized that adult pups of SHR mothers would show higher blood pressure measurements. Litters were randomly assigned to either a colony temperature condition or one of two thermal-controlled environments. Litters were assessed for mother-infant contact and individual maternal and infant behaviors. As predicted, SHR mothers spent less time with their litter compared to the WKY strain. These findings conclude that altering the mother's behavior affects her ability to maintain normothermia and impacts the thermal environment of the pup.
The Effects of Multiple Thermal Environments on Mother-Infant Contact and Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
CSU
Hypertension in rats may be reduced by altering neonatal environment. Thermoregulatory controls along with mother-infant reactions are factors responsible for development of adult hypertension. Warmer environmental temperatures were hypothesized to be the most efficient condition for reduced blood pressure measurements. SHR's reared in warmer environments showed lower levels of hypertension than those raised in cool environments. The behavior of the mother is the second factor which can cause hypertension. It was hypothesized that adult pups of SHR mothers would show higher blood pressure measurements. Litters were randomly assigned to either a colony temperature condition or one of two thermal-controlled environments. Litters were assessed for mother-infant contact and individual maternal and infant behaviors. As predicted, SHR mothers spent less time with their litter compared to the WKY strain. These findings conclude that altering the mother's behavior affects her ability to maintain normothermia and impacts the thermal environment of the pup.
