Supplementing the liquid alcohol diet with chow enhances alcohol intake in C57 BL/6 mice

Administration of alcohol-containing liquid diet is associated with body weight loss in rodents.

The aim of this study was to modify the alcohol-containing liquid diet paradigm to reduce the body weight loss in mice during the alcohol treatment period.

Two sets of animals (Chow and No Chow groups) were exposed to chronic alcohol with a step-wise increase of alcohol in the diet. One set of control and alcohol exposed animals (Chow group) received chow during alcohol treatment. Food intake and body weight was measured every 24 h. Level of intoxication was determined by measuring blood alcohol levels. Alcohol dependence of mice was determined by handling-induced convulsions (HICs) scoring. Chronic alcohol-mediated effects on brain and liver were examined.

Body weight loss was attenuated in chronic alcohol exposed mice in Chow group as compared to No Chow group. Chow group mice consumed higher amounts of alcohol diet resulting in higher blood alcohol levels. Brain NMDA R1 protein levels and liver Cyp 2E1 levels were significantly enhanced in chronic alcohol exposed mice in Chow and No Chow groups suggesting that known medical consequences of alcohol are not interfered with in our modified alcohol treatment paradigm. HIC in Chow and No Chow group mice peaked between 3 and 5 h after alcohol withdrawal. However, the severity of alcohol withdrawal was greater in Chow group mice.

Supplementing alcohol diet with chow not only attenuated body weight loss associated with alcohol intake in mice but also resulted in higher consumption of alcohol diet and higher blood alcohol levels.