The effects of crowding-induced stress on alcohol consumption and adrenal activity were investigated. The subjects were 28 Sprague-Dawley rats (Tier 1) and 33 of their offspring (Tier 2), placed in Grouped or Isolated housing conditions. Consumption (without constant access to alcohol) and corticosterone levels were measured in Exp. I. Housing conditions had no significant impact on consumption or corticosterone levels for either tier. Females in both tiers consumed significantly more alcohol than males and had significantly higher corticosterone levels. Alcohol consumption and corticosterone levels were not significantly correlated. In Exp. II, alcohol consumption (with constant access to alcohol) and adrenal weights were measured. Grouped rats consumed significantly more alcohol than Isolated ones in Tier 1 but not in Tier 2. For both tiers, Grouped rats had significantly larger adrenal glands than Isolated rats, and females had significantly larger glands than males. The correlations between alcohol consumption and adrenal size were positive for both tiers but significant for Tier 2 only.
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