Differential hormonal and physiological responses to stress in Roman high- and low-avoidance rats

In the present experiments, plasma concentrations of corticosterone, ACTH, prolactin, blood glucose, serum free fatty acids, core temperature and fecal boli were measured immediately following the exposure of Roman high- and low-avoidance rats (RHA/Verh, RLA/Verh) to various stressful situations. As compared to RLA/Verh rats, the RHA/Verh animals showed an attenuated emotional response in “non-self-menacing” (novel environment) situations. Differences between the 2 selected lines were not generally found in unstressed rats or in “high-stress” (ether, immobilisation, footshock) situations.