Appetite for alcohol: influence of genetics and early experience

Thirty male mice from three inbred strains (C57BL/10J, BALB/cJ, C3H/2Ibg) were assigned to infantile handling or control conditions. At sixty days of age, all animals were tested in a two-choice situation for selection of 10% ethanol vs. water. Consumption from both drinking tubes was recorded for 15 days and selection ratios for alcohol per total fluid volume were calculated. C57 mice demonstrated increased preference for alcohol as a result of early handling. The BALB strain, known for low preference for alcohol, showed increased preference for alcohol as well. C3H mice evinced a biphasic effect of early handling, showing an initially greater acceptance of alcohol as compared to controls, followed by decreased selection.