[Pharmacological action on emotional sphere with phenazepam and caffeine changes preference of ethanol in Wistar male rats].

Earlier we have shown that essential for formation of preference to alcohol is not that much the initial anxiety level, but rather direction of its change in the process of forced alcoholization. The goal of this work was study of effect of change in the anxiety level on formation of action on the emotional sphere. Out of four groups, for 4 months of experiment, the 1st group had access only to the 10 % ethanol solution; the 2nd group--to the 10% ethanol with addition of 0.4 g/l caffeine; the 3rd - to 10% ethanol with 0.5 mg/l phenazepam; the 4th (control)--only to water. The anxiety level and behavioral parameters were estimated prior to the experiment and after each 5 weeks with aid of the test "the open field". Preference of ethanol was determined with aid of the test "the two-glass sample" before the experiment and each 4 weeks. In experimental groups of rats the long-term consumption of ethanol, of ethanol with caffeine, and of ethanol with phenazepam led to an increase in preference of alcohol as compared with control. A decrease of motor activity at the period of forced alcoholization was found to correlate positively with the low level of preference of alcohol. The rats consuming ethanol with caffeine and sensitive to action of the psychostimulator enhancing anxiety formed faster the preference to alcohol. In rats not sensitive to action of caffeine the preference to alcohol was not formed. Rats sensitive to the sedative action of phenazepam were less anxious and subsequently did not prefer alcohol. In rats not sensitive to phenazepam, anxiety was enhanced and preference to alcohol was formed.

[Effect of individual peculiarities on formation of preference of ethanol in female and male Wistar rats].

Individual characteristics of animal behavior can serve a prognostic parameter of predisposition to use of alcohol. The goal of the work was to study dynamics of formation of preference of alcohol at early stages in the process of forced alcoholization in male and female rats as well as the accompanying changes in behavior parameters. For 3 months, the rats were submitted to the forced alcoholization with 10 % ethanol. Each week the rats were tested in the "two-glass trial". Individual peculiarities of all animals were evaluated prior to, after 6 weeks, and after the end of the experiment with aid of the "open field test" and "Suok-test". Results showed that the male rats demonstrating by the end of the experiment the significantly higher level of the alcohol preference, at the initial stages of the forced alcoholization demonstrated the significantly lower preference as compared with the remaining ones. These rats also showed the lower levels of the motor and exploratory activities before alcoholization as compared with control. On the contrary, the individuals that by the end of the experiment did not differ from control by the level of the alcohol preference demonstrated prior to alcoholization in the "Suok-test" the higher anxiety level. In female groups, no statistically significant differences were observed both in parameters of the motor and exploratory activities and in the anxiety level in both tests. Thus, in male rats, the prognostic parameter predicting formation of the abuse can serve the degree of alcohol preference at the initial stages.

[Gender influence on the formation of alcohol preference and combination of alcohol with caffein in the condition of the long-term experiment].

The goal of the study was the investigation of ethanol and caffeine influence on the alcohol preference formation and behavior in male and female rats under the conditions of long-term experiment. For both sexes, the long consumption of caffeine, ethanol and their combination leads to the increase of alcohol consumption compared to the controls. The maximum ethanol consumption has been observed in the group with ethanol + caffeine intake. In these experiments, the behavioral activity has increased compared to the rats who received only alcohol and controls. The significant elevation of anxiety levels was noted in female, but not in male, rats in all experimental groups compared to the controls.