[Alcohol withdrawal syndrome in rats during avoidance training].

The alcohol withdrawal syndrome in rats was investigated in the open-field and during escape/avoidance training. Ten male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. Both groups were fed only with a liquid diet for one month. However, the diet for group E contained 5% (w/w) ethanol. The mean ethanol consumption of group E was 15.77 g/kg/day. Both groups steadily gained body weight. After withdrawal of alcohol in group E, their behaviors were examined by two types of tests successively in comparison with group C. Group E exhibited higher activities in the open-field but some animals presented handling-induced convulsion. The escape/avoidance training subsequently performed induced more conspicuous manifestations of withdrawal syndrome. These were objectively categorized into the following three behavior characteristics. Failure to escape from shock due to convulsion and seizures. Increase in intertrial responses due to hyperactivity. Death during the training session. This procedure is expected to be widely applicable to similar studies.