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INTRODUCTION
Measurements of physiological variables in
experiments are frequently affected by irregularities
resulting from handling of animals and subsequent
stress. These limitations can be overcome by telemetric
techniques which enable obtaining data without
handling of experimental animals before and during
measurements.
Determination of blood pressure (BP) and heart
rate (HR) is very useful in many types of experiments.
Usually BP is measured by tail-cuff plethysmography on
the tail of laboratory rodents, mainly rats and mice. This
“noninvasive” approach requires handling of animals
and an increase of ambient temperature that result in the
RADIOTELEMETRY MEASUREMENT OF HEART RATE,
BLOOD PRESSURE AND LOCOMOTORY ACTIVITY OF RATS IN
PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT
1*11,2
1
2
ABSTRACT
undisturbed animals without interference with handling and stress. This approach is important in behavioural sciences and research
on physiological basis of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, there is only one such system in the world that enables simultaneous
measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and electroencephalography together with the locomotory activity
validated this system in laboratory rats and hereby present results on blood pressure, heart rate and locomotory activity in rats
Key words:
approach for measuring BP and HR is a radiotelemetric
method. The direct comparison of both methods revealed
that the radiotelemetry provided results about 16 ± 2
al., 1990).
In our experiment we aimed at validation of the
radiotelemetry method for measurement of BP, HR and
locomotory activity. This type of measurement may
provide valuable data especially in continuous long-term-term
experiments. Therefore, we evaluated especially long
term changes of these physiological variables during
circadian rhythms which cannot be assessed by the
noninvasive tail-cuff plethysmography.
*Correspondence:
63
Slovak J. Anim. Sci., 42, 2009, SUPPLEMENT 1: 63-66
© 2009 CVŽV Nitra
ISSN 1337-9984
Original paper Slovak J. Anim. Sci., 42, 2009, SUPPLEMENT 1 : 63-66
MATERIAL AND METHODS
In our experiment we used four mature female
administered intramuscularly 600 µl of mixture to 300g
afterwards radiotelemetry measurements were initiated.
activity on freely moving animals we used the
only one available for this type of measurement. The
system consists from telemetric implants which send
signals to receivers located under the cages in which
animals were individually housed. The receiver converts
measured data and sends them to the matrix connected
that enables recording and storage of results. In our
into the abdominal aorta closely to the point of its
after the surgery. Data for analysis of circadian rhythms
experimental animals exhibited normal behaviour and no
consequences of surgery.
Data were analyzed by the software Dataquest
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
intervals. This mode of measurement provided us with
approximately 60,000 records from each animal per
parameter and one day. Representative records of daily
values during the light-time were found in a range 60
– 90 mmHg for diastolic BP, with the mean 71.7 ± 0.1
and systolic BP, respectively. HR values during the ligh-
was accompanied by an increase in BP and HR. Mean
locomotory activity during the light-time was 0.8 ± 0.1
up to 3.2 ± 0.1 counts per minute. Measured values
of BP and HR are in ranges reported with telemetric
measurements and are lower as found by noninvasive tail-
become possible to use the telemetric system in different
In all variables we found an increase of values
circadian control of all studied parameters including the
anticipatory increase before the change in the photoperiod.
and locomotory activity we observed rhythmic changes
rhythms with period 2-3 hours were much more variable
than the circadian rhythms and their characteristics,
which have not been described well yet.
rhythmic changes with longer periods and demonstrated
correlated closely between diastolic and systolic BP as
2). Multiple correlations among all studied parameters
bioinformatics approach owing to the huge number of
obtained data.
CONCLUSION
radiotelemetry techniques for continuous and long term
monitoring of BP, HR and locomotory activity in freely
moving rats. The ranges of obtained values of systolic
and diastolic BP were in the range given in literature.
of physiological variables without an interference
Slovak J. Anim. Sci., 42, 2009, SUPPLEMENT 1: 63-66 Original paper
with handling and subsequent stress stimuli of studied
and exchange of batteries in sensors by the manufacturer.
Therefore the use of the system must be carefully
considered.
Fig.1: Daily proles of heart rate (A), locomotor activity (B) and blood pressure (C) in a laboratory rat
implanted with the sensor TA11PA-C40 (DSI St. Paul, Minnesota, USA). Plots represent outputs
from the program Dataquest A.R.T. 4.1 with 8.640 values per 24 h reecting 1 min averages of
measured parameters. Animals were kept at LD 12:12, with lights on from 22:00 till 10:00. The dark
bar above graphs represents the dark time period
Acknowledgements
66
Original paper Slovak J. Anim. Sci., 42, 2009, SUPPLEMENT 1 : 63-66
REFERENCES
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Methods
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behaviours associated with de-arousal in restricted-fed
Physiology and Behavior
Measurement of intraocular pressure by telemetry in
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Laboratory Animals
Fig.2: Daily proles of heart rate (A), locomotor activity (C) and blood pressure (systolic (B) and diastolic
(D)) in the laboratory rat kept in LD 12:12 and monitored by the radiotelemetry system (DSI St.
Paul, Minnesota, USA). Each point at the graph represents a 1-hour mean. Results illustrate a high
correlation between systolic and diastolic BP values and between heart rate and locomotor activity.
The dark bar on the abscissa represents the dark period of the 24 h cycle