Effects of Separate and Combined Chronic Administration of Energy Drinks and Alcohol on Grooming Behaviour in Male Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Grooming behaviour is a reliable indicator of central nervous system (CNS) functioning frequently used to assess behavioural and neurochemical responses to psychoactive substances. This study examined the separate and combined effects of energy drinks and alcohol on grooming behaviour in male Albino Wistar rats. Using a randomized experimental design, twenty-eight rats were assigned to four groups (n = 7): energy drink, alcohol, combined energy drink and alcohol, and control. Treatments were administered orally once daily for 28 consecutive days. Upper- and lower-body grooming behaviours were recorded daily and systematically quantified. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, repeated-measures ANOVA, two-way mixed ANOVA, and Least Significant Difference (LSD) post hoc tests. Descriptive analyses showed that control animals displayed the highest grooming frequencies, whereas rats exposed to the combined treatment exhibited the lowest grooming activity. Although one-way ANOVA revealed no significant overall group differences (p > .05), LSD post hoc comparisons indicated significant reductions in lower-body and mean grooming in the combined group relative to controls (p < .05). Repeated-measures analysis demonstrated a significant main effect of time and a significant Group × Day interaction (p < .001), indicating treatment-dependent variations in grooming patterns across the exposure period. A significant main effect of grooming type was also observed, with upper-body grooming occurring more frequently than lower-body grooming. These findings suggest that chronic co-administration of alcohol and energy drinks disrupts grooming behaviour with suggestions for further neurochemical research and public awareness.