Effects of Alpha-Pinene Odor in Different Concentrations on Stress-Induced Hyperthermia in Rats

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Stress-induced hyperthermia is observed in animals exposed to stressful conditions. In our previous study, plant-derived fragrances such as green odor and alpha-pinene were shown to suppress this stress response in rats. In the present study, we examined the concentration-dependence of the alpha-pinene effects on stress-induced hyperthermia. Male rats carrying telemetry transmitters were transferred individually to a new cage containing bedding that had been sprayed with 0.3, 0.03, and 0.003% concentrations of alphapinene or control solvent. Following transfer to the novel environment, the body temperature increased significantly, and this response was clearly suppressed when the cage was scattered with 0.03% alpha-pinene only. These results suggest that the effect of alpha -pinene on stress-induced hyperthermia can be observed only at a certain concentration. KEY WORDS: alpha-pinene, concentration effect, hyperthermia.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 65(9): 1023-1025, 2003 When an animal is exposed to stressful situations, autonomic responses including a temporary increase of body temperature, namely stress-induced hyperthermia or emotional fever, have been observed in several species [3,4,[6][7][8][9][24][25][26]. Recent studies have suggested that in phylogeny this stress response involving body temperature has emerged between amphibians and reptiles [5]. In our previous study, it was revealed that an external olfactory stimulation could affect this autonomic stress response. Namely, plant-derived fragrances such as green odor and alphapinene showed ameliorative effects on stress-induced hyperthermia [1]. In addition, by using this model Kikusui et al. could also show an opposite effect in which exposure to alarm pheromones resulted in an aggravation of this hyperthermia [13]. When the odorant concentration was changed, the impression or the effects accompanying that odor to the physiological response and behavior in vivo could be different. For example, the event-related potential P300 was altered its amplitude by emotional change, and the experiment using components of the green odor induced different amplitudes of P300 depending on its concentration [20]. Feeding behavior of goats was suppressed by only higher concentration of trans-2-hexenal [11]. These results suggest that each odorant has a certain concentration at which it is most effective. In the present study we therefore examined concentration-dependence of the effect of alphapinene on stress-induced hyperthermia by preparing both lower (0.003%) and higher (0.3%) concentrations in addition to the concentration (0.03%) that in our previous study was confirmed to be effective.The basic experimental procedures and animals were as described previously [1]. Briefly, male Wistar rats (9 weeks old: Clea Japan, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) weighing approximately 230-300 g were housed in groups of 4 animals per cage with wood shavings (Soft chip: Japan SLC, Inc

Therapeutic Potential of α- and β-Pinene: A Miracle Gift of Nature

“…The effect of α-pinene on stress-stimulated hyperthermia in Wistar mice was analyzed [76]. Rats were exposed to varying doses (0.003%, 0.03%, and 0.3%) of α-pinene odor.…”

A novel assay to evaluate olfactory modulation of honeybee aggression

“…This provides scientific support to anecdotal reports that lavender oil applied onto hands or gloves is an effective way of reducing stinging during beekeeping routines, suggesting Praescent as suitable alternative. It also shows, for the first time, that Praescent not only attenuates stress in vertebrates (Akutsu et al 2002(Akutsu et al , 2003Aou et al 2005;Kim et al 2005;Tokumo et al 2006;Fukada et al 2007;Fujita et al 2010), but also has a modulating effect on insect aggression.…”

“…This odour is a mixture of three common plant odorants (cis-3-hexanol, trans-2-hexenal and alpha-pinene), two of which are typical green leaf volatiles released when plants suffer tissue damage (Visser et al 1979). Interestingly, Praescent and its constituents have been found to modulate anxiogenic phenotypes in rodents, significantly reducing the physiological effects of stress (Akutsu et al 2002(Akutsu et al , 2003Aou et al 2005;Kim et al 2005;Tokumo et al 2006;Fukada et al 2007;Fujita et al 2010). With aggression being a natural behavioural response to stress, also in honeybees (Even et al 2012), Praescent clearly is a plant odour worth investigating with respect to its potential for reducing bee aggressive behaviour.…”

Effects of exposure to plant‐derived odorants on behavior and the concentration of stress‐related hormones in steers isolated under a novel environment

“…Compared with the present study, higher intensity of the odor in the atmosphere might make sheep recognize the novelty of odor more clearly and might evoke the stronger neophobia (negative emotion), which may cover the appeasing effects of GO absorbed into the blood. Akutsu et al . (2003) reported that the appeasing effect of alpha‐pinine, one of the plant‐derived odorants, on physiological stress response could be observed only at a certain concentration.…”

“…2004; Yamada et al . 2005) and the increase in body temperature induced by exposure to a novel environment (Akutsu et al . 2003), while depressing motor activity during and after a forced swimming test (Komori et al .…”