Ethanol-stress interaction: differences among ethanol-preferring rats' responses to restraint.

Rats were screened in an alcohol-water free-choice paradigm and divided into low-ethanol preferring (1.5-2.5 g/kg/day), medium-ethanol-preferring (2.5-4.5 g/kg/day) and high-ethanol-preferring (4.5-6.0 g/kg/day) groups. In addition, a non-ethanol-exposed group was included. Each of these groups was again subdivided with half the animals in a group being food deprived for 16 hr, and the other half having ad lib access to food. All rats were then subjected to restraint in the supine position in a cold (4-6 degrees C) environment for 3 hr. Significant differences in ulcer incidence and severity (cumulative length of the ulcers expressed in millimeters) occurred, suggesting that higher intake of alcohol is associated with greater ulcer severity. This pattern occurred for both food-deprived and non-deprived animals.