Abstract
Summary
The effects of alcohol (0.16 g %), anxiety, and their interaction on circulatory parameters were examined. Electric shocks to the tails of the rats preceded by a 10-sec auditory signal were utilized to induce the anxiety condition. A significant increase in heart rate was found as a function of anxiety, regardless of alcohol. On the other hand, a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed under alcohol, irrespective of anxiety. Increases in blood flow to the viscera, heart, and lungs were found after alcohol ingestion. An increase in blood flow to selected skeletal muscle was observed during the anxiety condition suggesting a defensive reaction. The few significant interactions observed when comparing the combination of alcohol and anxiety as opposed to alcohol or anxiety separately suggested that there were no circulatory interactions between these two conditions.
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