Ethanol preference in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice at three ages and eight ethanol concentrations

Abstract

C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were tested for ethanol preference at three ages (7–9 mo., 14–16 mo., 22–24 mo.). Eight ethanol concentrations (4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 14%, 16%, 18%) were used. A reduction in ethanol preference with increasing age was seen in the C57BL/6 mice, but not in the BALB/c animals. For C57BL/6 mice the largest difference in ethanol preference occurred between the 10% and 18%, ethanol solutions. It was found that the ethanol preference of the 14–16 mo. C57BL/6 mice was similar to the 7–9 mo. old C57BL/6 mice at the first 5 concentrations. For the remaining concentrations the 14–16 mo. mice more closely resembled the 22–24 mo. mice in ethanol preference. The results of this study suggested that increased age does not simply result in a reduction in ethanol preference, but is a function of the genotype and concentration of the ethanol solution.