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Cardiac and Thermal Homeostasis in the Aging Brown Norway Rat

Neurotoxicology Division, National Health Effects and Environmental Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Address correspondence to Christopher J. Gordon, PhD, B105-04, Neurotoxicology Division, NHEERL, U.S. EPA, 109 T. W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. E-mail: gordon.christopher{at}epa.gov

The cardiovascular and thermoregulatory systems are considered to be susceptible in the aged population, but little is known about baseline cardiac and thermoregulatory homeostasis in rodent models of aging. Radiotransmitters were implanted in male, Brown Norway rats obtained at 4, 12, and 24 months to monitor the electrocardiogram (ECG), interbeat interval (IBI), heart rate (HR), core temperature (Tc), and motor activity (MA). There was no significant effect of age on resting HR and MA. Daytime Tc of the 24-month-old rats was significantly elevated above those of the 4- and 12-month-old groups. Variability of the IBI was highest in the 24-month-old rats. The elevation in daytime Tc beginning around 8 months of age may be a physiological biomarker of aging and may be an important factor to consider in studies using caloric restriction–induced hypothermia to increase longevity.

Key Words: Radiotelemetry • Heart beat variability • Core temperature • Motor activity • Heart rate