Effects of environment and socialization on anxiety and alcohol consumption.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of environment (enriched versus impoverished) and socialization (isolated versus socialized) on anxiety and alcohol consumption. Thirty-nine male Wistar rats (Harlan, Madison, WI) were randomly assigned to one of four housing-environment groups (isolated-enriched, isolated-impoverished, socialized-enriched, and socialized-impoverished). Following 97 days of environmental exposure, all rats were tested for anxiety using the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Following anxiety testing, rats were placed in individual hanging metal cages for 1 hr daily with food and increasing doses of alcohol drinking solution. At the end of the 20 days of alcohol consumption, all rats received 2 days of a two-bottle (water vs. 10% alcohol) preference test during the hour. Finally, all rats were again tested for anxiety on the elevated plus-maze. The most important findings were that housing and environment each affected alcohol consumption, and that alcohol reduced anxiety for all rats. All isolated rats drank significantly more alcohol and significantly less water than all socialized rats. All impoverished rats drank significantly more alcohol and significantly less water than all enriched rats Also, all rats, regardless of the type of housing and environment, spent less time on the closed arms of the elevated plus maze after alcohol consumption than they did before alcohol treatment.