Establishment and evaluation of earthquake simulation method in fear stress experiment with rats

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the earthquake simulation in fear stress experiment with rats.Methods Forty-five Wistar pregnant rats were divided into a control group and two model groups(communication box and earthquake simulation group).The two model groups were established by making the rats watching other rats shocked by electricity and simulating earthquake and the models were evaluated by observing the number of filial rats and the cognitive ability of the offspring at the age of 1 month.Results Compared with the control group,the number of filial rats in two model groups was reduced,with significant differences(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the average escape latency periods were 89.5±27.2,70.7±40.0,57.4±38.3,and 55.5±35.9 s for the rats in communication box group on the first to 4th day of the experiment,with significant differences(P<0.05).Compared with the communication box group,the average escape latency periods were shortened in the earthquake simulation group,with a significant difference(P>0.05).In spatial probe test,compared with the control group,the average swimming speed of the communication box group was slower(P<0.05) and the percent of the 20% marginal area increased(P<0.05),but decreased for other areas(P<0.05),with significant differences(P<0.05);the average swimming speed of earthquake simulation group was slower(P<0.05),with a significant difference(P<0.05).Conclusion The earthquake simulation method is feasible for fear stress experiment with rats but needs to be improved.