Sex differences in alcohol consumption are known to occur in human and mouse models. Female C57BL/6J mice consume more alcohol during intermittent access schedules than males, a difference that may be influenced by gonadal hormones. To evaluate the influence of organizational effects of these hormones, a neonatal injection of testosterone was administered within 24 hours of birth. Females that were ... read moregiven these hormonal injections were found to drink less than control females injected with the sesame oil, the vehicle. This indicates a possible organizational effect of testosterone on alcohol drinking patterns. The interaction of alcohol and ovarian hormones was also examined by comparing estrous cyclicity in alcohol drinking and water drinking female C57BL/6J mice. There was no difference in alcohol consumption between stages of the estrous cycle. However, ethanol drinking was shown to alter normal cyclicity, with females spending more time in the diestrus stage compared to proestrus and estrus stages. Future investigations into the organizational effects of testosterone using neonatal castration or androgen blockers could yield more insight into this phenomenon.read less
