Abstract
Beer and palm wine are two alcoholic beverages that play an important role in local ceremonies and other social life of Nigerians especially in the southern part of the country. The long term effect of beer and palm wine on locomotor behavior and anxiety is not yet known. Following chronic consumption (4 weeks feeding) of beer and palm wine, patterns of locomotor behavior and exploration was studied in 25 Swiss white mice weighing between (15-30 g), using the open field maze. The control group mice (n=5) were fed normal rodent chow, the palm wine treated groups were fed by gavage 2ml (n=5) and 4ml (n=5) of fresh palm wine while the star beer-treated group were fed by gavage 2ml (n=5) and 4ml (n=5) of star beer. Clean drinking water and normal rodent chow were access freely by all animals. The frequency of line crossing in the open field maze for the palm wine treated group was significantly lower (p<0.05) as compared to beer treated and control groups. The frequency of rearing in the open for the beer-treated group was significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared to the palm wine treated and control groups. But the frequency of rearing against the wall for the palm wine treated group was significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to control. This was however not significantly different from the beer treated group. Grooming in the palm wine treated group was significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared to beer treated and control groups. Freezing duration and frequency in the palm wine treated group was significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to beer treated and control group. The frequency of stretch attend postures in the beer treated group was significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to control. This was not statistically different from the palm wine treated group. The frequency and duration for center square entry for the beer treated group was significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to palm wine treated and control groups. The frequency of defecation in the palm wine treated group was significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to beer treated and control groups. Similar trend was observed in the frequency of urination. These results indicate that consumption of beer increases locomotor and exploratory activity while palm wine consumption increases anxiety but reduces locomotor activity and exploration in the open field.
KEYWORDS: Palm wine; Beer, Locomotor activity; Exploration.