DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN EMOTIONAL GRAY NORWAY RATS AFTER AIR BLASTING

Abstract

Twenty-three Wistar gray Norway rats were tested for emotionality by Hall''s method. Twelve of the rats were subjected to a minimum of 167 daily exposures to the sound of an air blast, and 11 were maintained as controls. Blood pressure determinations were taken on rats from both groups before and after the period of air-blasting. Hypertension developed in 10 of the 12 air-blasted animals, and in one of the control group. All of the emotional air-blasted rats developed hypertension, while none of the emotional controls did. It is concluded that a physically disturbing stimulus will produce neurogenic hypertension in an emotional rat; but if undisturbed, such a rat probably will not develop hypertension.