The open field: a simple method to show ethanol withdrawal symptoms.

The effects of withdrawal from chronic ethanol administration on locomotion and rearing frequencies of rats and mice were studied. Ethanol withdrawal induced a significant increase in animal's activity. In mice a positive correlation was found between locomotion plus rearing frequencies and audiogenic-induced seizures susceptibility 25 hr after ethanol removal. Results show that general activity evaluated through the open-field method might be used as a simple, non-drastic and reliable procedure to detect ethanol withdrawal symptoms in laboratory animals.