Behavioral and biochemical effects of chronic consumption of ethanol by hamsters

Male Syrian Golden-Hamsters consumed about 90% of their fluid as an ethanol-water solution when given a choice between water and ethanol-water solutions. This resulted in a daily alcohol intake of about 11 g/kg. After 53 days of alcohol ingestion there was no evidence of tolerance to the soporific effects of parenterally administered ethanol and removal of the ethanol solutions failed to produce any signs of alcohol withdrawal. However, after cessation of ethanol ingestion, the acquisition of escape responding from footshock was impaired in the alcohol group as compared to a control group. Biochemical and ultrastructural analyses demonstrated that chronic ethanol ingestion hepatic glycogen and plasma triglycerides without altering either the hepatic or plasma concentrations of phospholipids, free cholesterol or cholesterol esters. These results demonstrate that the hamster has an unusual metabolic response to ethanol. These findings are contrasted to the biochemical and behavioral effects of the drug in other species.