Summary: | Several behavioral mechanisms have been suggested
to explain the effects of ethanol or physical exercise
on anxiety. The purpose of the current study was to
assess the effects of chronic and acute administration
of ethanol on swimming exercise in mice, sequentially
submitted to the elevated plus-maze and open-field
tests. In the first experiment, sedentary or physical
exercise groups received chronic treatment with ethanol
(0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 2 or 4 g ethanol/kg/day by oral gavage)
for 14 days before the tests. In the second experiment,
groups received a single dose of ethanol (ip: 0.6, 0.8, 1.0
or 1.2 g/kg), ten minutes before the start of behavioral
tests. The present study found an anxiolytic-like effect
after chronic ethanol treatment or swimming exercise,
evidence of beneficial effects. Moreover, we conclude
that exercise can increase behavioral sensitivity to
ethanol in acute treatment. The experiments described
here show that the effects of ethanol on the behavior
displayed in the elevated plus-maze and open-field are
not only dose-dependent but also modified by swimming
exercise. These results may provide valuable insights
into possible molecular mechanisms governing these
adaptations.
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