Bimodal distributions of highest ethanol acceptance concentrations in two strains of rats

Two groups of non-deprived male Wistar rats and one group of male Sprague-Dawley rats were offered a choice of water and daily-increasing concentrations of ethanol. Each group's distribution of highest ethanol acceptance concentrations approximated a bimodal distribution with respect to concentration. Further, rats in each group which drank ethanol at high concentrations maintained relatively constant intakes of pure ethanol. These results are discussed in terms of taste and olfaction, central nervous system sensitivity and emotionality.