Sex-differences in ethanol sensitivity and alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities in the Syrian hamster

Because male Syrian hamsters demonstrate greater preference for ethanol than female hamsters, we compared them with regard to ethanol sensitivity and hepatic alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities. Male hamsters were slower to recover righting response and had lower blood alcohol levels upon recovery than did females. Hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity was approximately twice as high in females as males, but gender differences were not found for either cytosolic or non-cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase activities. The results suggest that the reduced ethanol sensitivity of female hamsters is due to more rapid metabolism. However, the finding that female hamsters have higher blood alcohol concentrations upon recovery also suggests the possibility of reduced CNS sensitivity.