Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We directly compared a low-tech test tube (TT) method and a high-tech volumetric drinking monitor (VDM) to assess their impact on female mice alcohol drinking. METHOD: We adapted a voluntary drinking paradigm described by Brady et al. (2012) for both TT and VDM. Eight mice were assigned to each method, and we measured their drinking volume and blood alcohol concentrations (BACs), comparing values using t-tests. RESULTS: After 2 weeks of drinking alcohol BACs were not significantly different between the VDM (82 ± 21 mg/dL) vs.TT (73 ± 23 mg/dL) groups [t(14) = 0.27, p = 0.7935]. Calculated ethanol intake (g/kg) on the blood draw day was also not significantly different [t(14) = 0.43, p = 0.6732] between VDM (3.0 ± 0.41) vs.TT (3.3 ± 0.49) [t(14) = 0.43, p = 0.6732]. CONCLUSIONS: TT or VDM resulted in comparable average daily ethanol consumption and resultant BACs in female mice.