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Ethanol-stress interaction: immediate versus delayed effects of ethanol and handling on stress responses of
G E Rockman1, A M Hall, L Markert
1Department of Psychology, University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Abstract:
Rats screened for voluntary ethanol intake (high, medium, and low ethanol-preferring rats and non-ethanol-exposed controls) were given acute immobilization stress either immediately following the ethanol screening procedure, or after a 20 day period without access to ethanol. Among animals examined for stress responses immediately after ethanol screening, it was observed that water-only control rats developed significantly less frequent and less severe gastric stress ulcers than rats in all ethanol-exposed groups. This result suggests that ethanol, stress and routine handling may have contributed to ulcer formation in these animals. In contrast, among rats tested for stress responses after 20 days without ethanol, it was observed that the high ethanol-preferring animals showed less severe stress ulcers. These results indicate that among high ethanol-consuming animals, the presence of ethanol enhances ulcer severity, while prior experience with ethanol consumption does not appear to predispose rats to exacerbated stress gastric pathology.