Effects of Separate and Combined Chronic Ingestion of Alcohol and Energy Drinks on Aggressive Behaviour in Female Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Aggressive behaviour is a complex neurobehavioural phenomenon influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors, including exposure to psychoactive substances. Although alcohol and energy drinks have each been independently linked to alterations in aggression, limited experimental evidence exists regarding their separate and combined effects, particularly in female animal models. This study investigated the chronic effects of alcohol, energy drinks, and their co-administration on aggressive behaviour in female albino Wistar rats. A total of 28 female albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Control, Energy Drink, Alcohol, and Alcohol combined with Energy Drink. Rats received daily oral administration of alcohol (0.5 ml/kg body weight), energy drink (1.0 ml/kg body weight), or their combination for 28 consecutive days. Aggressive behaviour was assessed using the validated Resident–Intruder Paradigm, with dominant posture, scratching, and biting recorded as indices of aggression. Data were analysed using One-Way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc comparisons. Results revealed a statistically significant effect of treatment on aggressive behaviour, p < .001, with a large effect size (partial η² ≈ .87). Rats exposed to energy drinks exhibited the highest levels of aggression (M = 76.00), followed by alcohol-only exposure (M = 62.43), while the combined alcohol and energy drink group showed the lowest aggression (M = 34.57), even below control levels (M = 44.86). The findings indicate that chronic exposure to alcohol and energy drinks significantly modulates aggressive behaviour in female albino Wistar rats, with stimulatory and depressant substances producing distinct and interactive effects.