[Is ethanol a stressogenic factor for rats with a developed alcohol motivation?].
The male outbred rats, placed in common cages, demonstrated dose- and time-dependent increase of blood plasma ACTH level after handling and acute ethanol administration (1 and 4 g/kg). The pituitary response of isolated rats under condition of free choice between water and 15% ethanol solution was more pronounced after handling. Ethanol (4 g/kg) did not increase plasma blood level ACTH in isolated alcohol motivated rats. It also prevented blood plasma ACTH rise under condition of handling. The dual role of acute ethanol as a stressogenic and antistressogenic factor in naive and alcoholic rats is discussed.