Abstract
The effects of alcohol (ethanol 1.2 and 3 g/kg orally) on the occurrence of 13 social and 5 non-social acts and postures in alcohol-treated male rats and their untreated partners in a monosexual dyadic interaction were investigated. Alcohol decreased all social activities in the treated rats even in the lower dose of 1.2 g/kg which hardly affected ataxia. Some of the social activities (social sniffing, social grooming and all social acts involving walking) were reduced quite selectively as corresponding non-social activities involving similar movements (self-grooming, walking across cage) were not influenced even after 3 g/kg of alcohol. On the other hand, both social and non-social activities involving upright movement (mounting, aggressive posture, boxing and rearing) were reduced which may have been due to impaired motor function. Some social activities (e.g. defensive postures) may have been reduced because appropriate provoking activities (aggressive postures) in the untreated partners were decreased.
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Kršiak, M., Borgesová, M. Effect of alcohol on behaviour of pairs of rats. Psychopharmacologia 32, 201–209 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428691
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428691