Conditioned neuroendocrine and cardiovascular stress responsiveness accompanying behavioral passivity and activity in aged and in young rats.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), plasma epinephrine (E), plasma norepinephrine (NE), and plasma corticosterone (CORT) were measured in 3-month- and 24-month-old male Wistar rats exposed to a conditioned emotional stress response (CER) paradigm and a conditioned defensive burying (CDB) paradigm. In the CER situation blood samples were taken during reexposure to the training environment one day after a single inescapable footshock (0.6 mA, AC for 3 s) had been administered. In the CER paradigm the young rats displayed passive behavior (immobility) accompanied by an increase in plasma levels of CORT and E, whereas both the control and conditioned animals showed increased NE responses. Previously shocked aged rats exhibited an attenuated plasma NE response, whereas levels of E remained elevated to a greater extent. Aged animals showed elevated basal levels of CORT one day after footshock administration. Stress-induced immobility was preserved in the aged rats. These animals had an increase in basal MAP values and a decrease in basal HR values compared to young ones. In the CDB paradigm, rats were exposed to a nonelectrified probe 1 day after the repeated shock (2 mA/contact) procedure. Young rats displayed defensive burying accompanied by increments in MAP, HR, CORT, and NE. The aged animals showed similar hormonal, autonomic, and behavioral stress responses. Thus, the age-related alterations in neuroendocrine and autonomic response patterns are apparent in stressed animals during behavioral passivity in absence of control (CER) rather than during active control (defensive burying).