Heart rate dependence against the training level in rats at the background of instrumental food-procuring movements

Abstract

Introduction: Certain changes evolve as a result of long-term adaptation to physical stress, especially in the cardiovascular system. Short term decrease in heart rate (HR) below its initial level with subsequent recovery was noticed and studied against the training the background of instrumental food-procuring movements in rats. The subsequent study of revealed dependence pattern may suggest opportunities for objective assessment of the training level and/or diagnostics of cardiovascular system state, thus the study of this is topical and promising. The study objective was to investigate the pattern of HR changes in rats over the background of instrumental food-procuring movements in the process of skill formation. Materials and Methods: A group (n = 6) of Wistar male rats weighing 250-300 g was used in experiments. HR changes were being registered daily using laboratory made phonocardiographic transducer in the process of 30 minutes long training sessions of instrumental food-procuring movements during 12 days.Discussion results: Instrumental food-procuring movements are accompanied by a validated HR decrease occurring at the moment of food ball capturing with further restoration to the original level in some seconds. The findings give evidence of direct correlation between training level and the HR decrease. Conclusion: Combined response of the autonomic nervous and motion control systems suggests that reactions revealed are caused by a CNS joint center. Greater levels of HR decrease evolved in the process of skill improvement may contribute to more successful capturing of food balls.