Hypoxia and Spontaneous Locomotor Activity in the Rat

Abstract

Three experiments investigated the effects of hypoxia on activity wheel running in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Ss were exposed to atmospheres containing 21% O₂ (normoxia), 16% O₂, 12% O₂, and 8% O₂ for 20 min. of running. Decreases in activity occurred in atmospheres below 16% O₂. Activity over the length of each 20-min. running period decreased as a function of amount of previously elapsed running time but was not significantly affected by the duration of previous exposure to the experimental atmosphere. Running in a normoxic atmosphere was increased if the immediately preceding exposure involved a hypoxic rather than normoxic atmosphere. The results suggest a dual effect of hypoxia. Hypoxia initially increases the tendency to be active in the non-running rat but eventually reduces activity in the running animal. Hypoxia was compared to other deprivation states with respect to motivational properties.

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