Ethological study of the state of anxiety in rats with chronic nickel nitrate poisoning on the background of experimental atherosclerosis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to study the effect of chronic poisoning with nickel nitrate in experimental atherosclerosis on the state of anxiety in the «elevated plus maze» test. The experiments were carried out on 50 white non-linear male rats. The model of atherosclerosis was created according to I.V. Savitsky et al. (2016), which is based on the polyetiological theory of the development of the disease. After modeling atherosclerosis, poisoning with nickel nitrate was carried out through the drinking water for 60 days at a dose of 2 mg/kg. The results showed that the behavioral disturbances that occurred after the modeling of atherosclerosis were aggravated after poisoning with nickel nitrate. In particular, in the «elevated plus maze» test, adequate parameters visually reflecting the state of anxiety were manifested in active avoidance of the open space of the maze, in a decrease in the number of vertical stands, in a decrease in the number of hanging from open sleeves, in a decrease in the number of looks from closed sleeves, as well as in a decrease of grooming number with a corresponding increase in its duration. Maximum disturbances were observed two months after exposure to nickel nitrate. The obtained data show a toxic neurotropic effect of chronic intoxication with nickel nitrate in experimental atherosclerosis and highlight the necessity of creating efficient remediation methods.