Correlation of heart rate variability and behavioural indicators in Wistar rats

The aim - to study the correlation relationship between the parameters of heart rate variability and behavioural indicators of anxiety, emotionality and pain sensitivity in Wistar rats. Materials and methods. The study was carried out on 25 male and 25 female Wistar rats weighing 180-300 g. Methods for assessing the functional state of animals included analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), elevated plus-maze (EPM) and open field (OF), hot plate, and tail-flick tests. Results. It was found that for a comprehensive assessment of the functional state of Wistar rats according to HRV data, it is necessary to take into account the initial level of spectral characteristics (low or high spectral values - LSV and HSV), and for behavioural indicators - the sex of the animal. In this connection, the following groups were identified: a common group (males and females), a common group with LSV, a common group with HSV, a common group of males (with LSV and HSV), a group of males with LSV, a group of males with HSV, a common group of females (with LSV and HSV), a group of females with LSV, a group of females with HSV. Correlation analysis between HRV, EPM, OF and pain sensitivity indicators allowed us to identify the most significant relationships in each group. The most versatile for assessing anxiety, locomotor and research activity, as well as pain sensitivity are SDNN, RMSSD, pNN3, CV, Mo, HF and LF. Conclusion. Thus, the relationship of HRV with behavioural indicators has been proved and the prospects for further study of the studied parameters as prognostic criteria.

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