TITLE:
Sex Influence on the Formation of Alcohol Preference and Behavior in Rats during the Long-Term Caffeine and Ethanol Intake
AUTHORS:
Eugenia Kutcher, Alexey Egorov, Elena Filatova, Kristina Kulagina, Nadezhda Chernikova
KEYWORDS:
Ethanol, Caffeine, Two-Bottle Test, Behavioral Activity, Anxiety
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science,
Vol.1 No.3,
August
26,
2011
ABSTRACT: Last years the intake of energy drinks (drinks containing caffeine and alcohol) both in young men and women has been increased. However the investigators do not pay attention to the analysis of gender differences. 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. It has been found that six month intake of caffeine, ethanol and their combination has led to the increase of alcohol preference both in male and female rats. Alcohol preference was formed earlier in rats consumed combination of caffeine with ethanol, later on in rats consumed ethanol. In animals consumed caffeine the strong alcohol preference did not form up to the end of the experiment. Alcohol preference was higher in female rats consuming caffeine with ethanol and pure ethanol solution compared to male rats. .Behavioral activity significantly increased in females consumed caffeine and caffeine with ethanol, compared to animals received ethanol and controls. Similar tendency was observed in male rats. The anxiety level was significantly higher in females rats in all experimental groups compared to controls, while males did not demonstrate increased anxiety.