Behavioral Status in Rats with Experimental Comorbidity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Acute Cerebral Ischemia

Objectives. To undertake a comparative analysis of the behavioral patterns of rats with experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute cerebral ischemia (ACI), and the combination of these pathologies. Materials and methods. The study was performed on 70 male Wistar laboratory rats weighing 250–300 g, divided into five groups. The results of comparative evaluation of the neurological and behavioral status of the rats is presented. Experimental COPD was modeled using combined inducers (purified papain and bacterial lipopolysaccharide) and ACI by simultaneous bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries. Neurological status was evaluated using the NSS scale and behavioral status using a battery of tests: the open field test, the eight-arm radial maze, and the elevated O maze. Results and conclusions. Animals with combined pathologies showed the lowest level (20%) of survival and the greatest severity of neurological and behavioral disorders. These animals were characterized by sharp restriction to locomotor and exploratory activity, high anxiety, and increasing autonomic imbalance. Survival in rats with ACI only was 35%, while abnormalities in their neurological and behavioral status were of moderate severity. Rats with experimental COPD only had mild neurological deficit. Behavioral abnormalities consisted of moderate restriction to locomotor function and minor increases in anxiety on the background of retained exploratory activity and spatial memory. The results provide evidence of the relevance of the model of respiratory and cerebrovascular comorbidity for assessment of changes in physiological functions and their subsequent treatment.