The effects of restraint stress on voluntary ethanol consumption in rats.
Sixty Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were assigned to 4 groups of 15 rats each: ethanol stress (ES), ethanol no-stress (EN), isocaloric stress (IS) and isocaloric no-stress (IN). The effect of restraint stress on daily intake of ethanol and a 0.72% solution of glucose was examined in an ABA design (stress-no stress-stress). During the stress phases, 2 groups were subjected to daily 15-min restraint stress, whereas 2 groups were placed in different cages for 15 min as a control. All 4 groups were then given 6-hr access to their assigned liquid alone for 4 days followed by a choice between their assigned liquid and water on the 5th day. The ES group significantly increased their ethanol intake (g/kg) compared to the EN group on choice days but not on forced days. Percentage preference for ethanol was significantly greater and increased at a faster rate over the 75-day testing period compared with the EN group. However, total ethanol consumption (g/kg) and percentage preference did not vary as a function of phase. It is notable that the effects of restraint stress on ethanol self-administration persisted even after the stress schedule was removed.
Lynch
W J
WJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, USA.
Kushner
M G
MG
Rawleigh
J M
JM
Fiszdon
J
J
Carroll
M E
ME
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D004326:Drinking; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*
D005947:Glucose