Alcohol Drinking Behavior in Rats Exposed to Crowding Stress

One of the environmental factors influencing the animals to drink alcohol is stress or arousal and housing. There is considerable evidence showing that housing and social factors influence alcohol intake in rats. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of crowding stress on voluntary alcohol intake in rats and also to observe whether there is any ender difference in free choice alcohol intake. Wistar strain albino rats of either sex were exposed to one week crowding stress and the effect of crowding on voluntary alcohol consumption, alcohol preference (%) and total alcohol intake (g/kg body weight) were studied. There was an increase in the alcohol preference and alcohol intake after one day stress compared to seven days stress in male rats. Male rats showed an adaptation to alcohol intake over one week period. A significantly higher alcohol intake was observed in female rats than the male rats after 7 days stress and there was no adaptation. Tus, there is an increase in voluntary alcohol drinking behavior after chronic crowding stress in female rats compared to male rats.