Evaluation of the effect of high air temperature on the behavioural activity and physical performance of animals (in a rat model)

Introduction. The profession of firefighters belongs to extreme activities. Fire hazards include flames, sparks, heat flow, elevated ambient temperatures, increased concentrations of toxic combustion and thermal decomposition products, decreased oxygen concentrations, and reduced visibility in smoke. High air temperature during fire extinguishing is one of the main adverse physical factors affecting firefighters’ bodies.

Material and methods. The study was carried out on 124 outbred white male 3-month rats weighing 250-300 g, divided randomly into two groups: the first group (62 rats) underwent single hyperthermia. The second group (62 rats) experienced daily hyperthermia for 14 days. The study of the behavioural activity of animals was carried out after single and prolonged hyperthermia using the following methods: “Open field”, “Elevated cruciform maze”, Porsolt’s test, running on a treadmill. The tests were performed two times: the first time - before exposure, the second - after, with intervals between tests of at least two weeks.

Results. The data obtained indicate that the high ambient temperature causes changes in the behavioural responses in animals, which is expressed by an increase in the level of anxiety, a decrease in motor and research activity, the development of depressive states, and a decrease in physical endurance.

Conclusion. An experimental model of extreme heat exposure on animals showed the emergence and persistence of changes in animals’ behavioural activity and physical performance indicators. This experiment can be used to study the long-term effects of high temperatures on firefighters’ bodies.

Contribution:

Kriyt V.E. — the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing a text;

Sladkova Yu.N. — collection and processing of material, writing a text;

Sannikov M.V. — editing;

Pyatibrat A.O. — collection and processing of material, statistical processing.

All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version. 

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

The conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee: the study was approved by the local ethics committee of the North-West Public Health Research Center, Federal Service on Customers’ Rights Protection and Human Well-being Surveillance (Rospotrebnadzor), carried out under the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental or Other Scientific Purposes (ETS N 123), the directive of the European Parliament and Council of the European Union 2010/63/EU of 22.09.2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.