Surgical removal of the pregastric pouch does not affect voluntary ethanol consumption in golden hamsters

Golden hamsters underwent either surgical removal of the pregastric pouch (PGX) or sham surgery. Following recovery from surgery, hamsters were given free access to 15% (v/v) ethanol solution for 40 days, and then to 30% ethanol solution for a further 32 days. PGX and sham-operated hamsters ingested similar amounts of absolute ethanol throughout the study, with intake exceeding 15 g/kg/day when 30% ethanol solution was available. The failure to find a significant effect of surgical treatment on ethanol intake was not attributable to a lack of statistical power, but rather suggests that other factors, such as the hamster's high levels of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase, are responsible for the hamster's unusual tolerance for ethanol.