Effect of heat acclimation on anxiety-like behavior of rats in an open field

To mitigate the impacts of heat exposure, animals can take some actions to maintain their core body temperature, such as heat acclimation; however, the effect of heat acclimation on anxiety-like behavior in an open field is still not understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the anxiety-like behavior of heat acclimated rats in a temperate or heated open field. After being raised in a 23 °C environment for one week, male Wistar rats were exposed to a heated environment (32 °C) for 3 h (3H), 14 days (14D), or 28 days (28D), with free access to food and water, and compared with rats reared in a temperate environment (23 °C; Cont). After heat exposure, behavioral changes were monitored using an open field test (OFT) in a heated (32 °C) or temperate environment (23 °C). Compared with those in the Cont group, the body weights of rats in the 14D and 28D groups were lower. The OFT in the heated environment showed that grooming time was longer in 3H and 14D rats. In the temperate environment, grooming time was longer in all the heated groups. Rats from the 3H and 28D groups spent longer time in the center square when tested in the temperate environment. Rearing activity increased in 28D rats in the temperate environment, while the number of line crossings did not differ significantly between the heated groups and the two open fields. These results suggest that heat acclimation affected not only the physiological index such as core body temperature but also the anxiety-like behavior, mainly in the temperate open field. These changes might be beneficial when rats are faced with an open field. •Heat acclimated rats showed decreased body weight.•Heat acclimation affects anxiety-like behavior of rats in an open field.•Changes in anxiety-like behavior may be affected by brain monoamine levels.•Heat acclimation may be beneficial for helping rats cope with an open field.