Abstract
Summary
Wild rats exposed after periods of isolation to frightening noises (tape recording of hissing cat and squealing rat) displayed myocardial necroses in nearly 70% of the experiments. In non-isolated, domesticated white rats, analogous frightening stimuli proved much less cardiotoxic, even after pretreatment with a sensitizing corticoid (fluorocortisol). Frustrating situations (compulsory jumping for food against increasing and confusing obstacles), on the other hand, elicited myocardial lesions in one-third to one-half of corticoid-sensitized white rats. With the exception of one white rat, none of the numerous untreated and corticoid-treated controls showed any myocardial lesions. The presumable joint role of adreno-sympathogenic catecholamine liberation and of adrenal corticoids in the myocardium-necrotizing mechanism of sensory and emotional stresses, and its clinical implications, are briefly discussed.
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