title: The effects of ethanol on the offense and defensive behaviors of male and female rats during group formation.
abstract: In order to determine the effects of ethanol on social/agonistic interactions of rats in mixed-sex groups, saline or 0.3, 0.6, or 1.2 g/kg injections of ethanol were given to one male in 3 M, 3 F groups just prior to placement of the animals in a colony situation. Scores of offensive behaviors by the treated males generally declined as a function of dose level, but only with the 1.2 g/kg dose were behavior scores significantly different from the saline control. Ethanol effects on defensive and sexual behaviors were not significant. The proportions of attacks directed at females by males given higher ethanol doses increased sharply and significantly. Females were not attacked more by untreated males in the same groups where treated males showed selective attack on females. These findings suggest that increasing levels of ethanol administration may produce changes in male rats' choices of targets for attack, with females becoming relatively more likely to be targets.
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000378:Agonistic Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol