| Abstract: | Different behavioral reactivity of rabbit groups differentiated by locomotor activity in the "open field" was revealed during exposure to emotional stimuli (rustle, loud sound, pressuring on back of the neck, vibroacoustic tactile stimulation of an ear). In passive rabbits, the active locomotor reactions were induced harder and freezing was obtained easier than in active animals. During exposure to sound stimuli, passive rabbits increased their locomotion more rarely than active animals, pressing on back of the neck produced longer freezing, a threshold of defensive ear shaking in response to a vibroacoustic stimulus in passive animals was highest. Training to mild immobilization increased the threshold of defensive responses in active rabbits and animals of the intermediate type. Changes in respiratory parameters were correlated with behavioral reactions to emotional stimuli. The duration of exhalation and respiratory cycle increased during freezing and increased during enhanced locomotion. The duration of inhalation decreased in response to emotional stimuli irrespective of a behavioral reaction. The respiratory reactions to emotional stimuli differed in rabbits of different groups. The respiratory rate more frequently changed in passive rabbits than in animals of other groups. Passive animals reacted mainly by exhalation, active rabbits and animals from the intermediate group predominantly responded by inhalation. |
