Ethanol-induced stimulation and depression on measures of locomotor activity: Effects of basal activity levels in rats

Male Sprague-Dawley rats selected for low (LA) and high activity (HA) were used to investigate the biphasic actions of ethanol (EtOH) (20% v/v) on spontaneous measures of activity. Following IP injections of low to moderate doses of EtOH (0.10 g/kg and 0.50 g/kg), horizontal and vertical activities were assessed at 0–10- and 30–40-min intervals. Rats preselected for LA exhibited an increase in performance on both measures. The stimulatory effect, however, was observed only during the 0–10-min session with the lowest dose of EtOH (0.10 g/kg). The 0.50-g/kg dose had no effect on either measure at the 0–10-min interval; however, both doses suppressed activity at the 30–40-min interval. In contrast, activity was suppressed in HA animals independent of the EtOH dose level or time interval. These results demonstrate that basal response profiles are important predictors of behavioral activation following low stimulant doses of EtOH. Moreover, the results demonstrate the importance of selecting animals for basal activity levels to reliably interpret the mechanisms controlling the stimulant and depressant effects of EtOH.