[Dynamics of rat behavior in conditions of psychogenic stress during alcoholic motivation]

The goal of the work was to study behavior of rats in conditions of psychogenic stress on the background of ethanol intake. Experiments were carried out on 12 mature while rats weighing 150-200g. Before the beginning of the experiments during one month rats with high and low ethanol intake have been identified. Conditioned reflexes of active avoidance of the tone of 500 Hz and metronome knock using defensive method were elaborated in the next series of the experiments in the "stress box". At the same time behavioral characteristics (horizontal and vertical standings, intrasignal passages, grooming) were studied. It is interesting to note that in the process of separate elaboration of conditioned defensive reflexes as well as against the background of their "combination" much drinking rats became little drinking ones, and vice versa. General behavior of the animals also changed. A mean duration of horizontal standings intrasignal passages and grooming increased at the stages one and two, while they decrease at the stage three. As to vertical standings, their mean duration increased stage by stage. A mean duration of horizontal and vertical standings in little drinking rats decreased at the stages one and two, while dramatically increased at the stage three. All these behavioral reactions are considered to be self-regulating behavior, directed to the increase of organism resistance for the functioning of the brain in conditions of psychogenic stress.