Topic: voluntary apnea

The oxidative stress and inflammation provoked by hypoxia can lead to damage to neurons in the hippocampus, a structure that plays a key role in learning and memory processes. Prevention of hypoxia-related damages may be achieved through different means: pharmacologically or behaviorally. Some plants have strong antioxidants properties, such as Guiera senegalensis (GS). Alternatively, performance of free-divers, without memory loss, suggests neuroprotective effects of extended training to apnea. We developed a rat model of hypoxia under voluntary apnea. Training consists of 3 to 4 weeks of hab

Although Sprague Dawley (SD) and Long-Evans (LE) rats are commonly used in a variety of behavioral studies, their specific abilities are rarely compared. The aim was to compare the apneic abilities of SD and LE male rats for future studies on brain adaptability to apnea using a voluntary apnea training protocol in a serpentine-shaped maze. This training is conducted in such a way as to reduce as much as possible any stressfulness, making it under the full will of the rat. It consists of a pre-training swimming phase, starting at weaning, followed by an apnea training over a 8 week duration, wh