SEX DIFFERENCES IN GROOMING AND LEVELS OF ANXIETY IN ALCOHOL-PREFERRING RATS
The aim of this study was to analyze sex differences in the characteristics of grooming and levels of anxiety in alcohol-preferring rats. The rats that were used in the study obtained from a population of WAG/Rij rats after genotyping of the locus Taq 1A DRD2, after interbreeding animals with genotype A1/A1 and the detection on the preference of alcohol in the test of «two drinkers». Characteristics of grooming studied as a component of the orientation-adaptive behavior of animals, levels of anxiety was analyzed by the «elevated plus maze» test. Sex differences revealed in indicators of the preference open and closed tubing of the labyrinth, in the number of committed stands and the duration of immobilization time. These data indicates that the males have a more severe anxiety. The results of this work show the relationship between level of anxiety and characteristics of grooming, which manifested in the fact that a greater level of anxiety corresponds to a shorter duration and fewer episodes of grooming.