Blood, 1957, Vol. 12, No. 7, pp. 649-656.
© 1957 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
The Effect of Psychological Stress Procedures on the
Prothrombin Time of Rats
G. J. MOGENSON 1 and
L. B. JAQUES 1
1 Dept. of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan.
We wish to acknowledge our
indebtedness to Dr. G. A. McMurray, Head of the Dept. of Psychology, University of
Saskatchewan, for his help and advice in the prosecution of this research.
Forced jumping in the Lashley jumping apparatus, maintenance in cages with
an electrified water source, transportation, sound-induced seizures, and electroconvulsive treatment were used in studying the effects of psychological stress on
the prothrombin time of the albino rat. An increased prothrombin time occurred
at certain times following forced jumping, sound-induced seizures, and electroshock. Frequently the altered coagulability was reflected in a greater heterogeneity of variance due to some animals having a longer prothrombin time and
others shorter. The changes in the prothrombin time following stress were more
pronounced when the prothrombopenic drug, Dicumarol, was administered. This
was evident from two indices, prothrombin time and mortality.
Submitted on October 5, 1956
Accepted on January 11, 1957
