title: Adapting to alcohol: Dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli) ethanol consumption, sensitivity, and hoard fermentation.
abstract: Ethanol consumption and sensitivity in many species are influenced by the frequency with which ethanol is encountered in their niches. In Experiment 1, dwarf hamsters (Phodopus campbelli) with ad libitum access to food and water consumed high amounts of unsweetened alcohol solutions. Their consumption of 15%, but not 30%, ethanol was reduced when they were fed a high-fat diet; a high carbohydrate diet did not affect ethanol consumption. In Experiment 2, intraperitoneal injections of ethanol caused significant dose-related motor impairment. Much larger doses administered orally, however, had no effect. In Experiment 3, ryegrass seeds, a common food source for wild dwarf hamsters, supported ethanol fermentation. Results of these experiments suggest that dwarf hamsters may have adapted to consume foods in which ethanol production naturally occurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. Electronic address: gjlupfer@uaa.alaska.edu.
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lupfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stanford University, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Merculieff
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.
authors.forename: Kori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radcliffe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.
authors.forename: Khrystyne N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Duddleston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004032:Diet; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005502:Food; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D017111:Phodopus
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Alcohol acceptance; Ethanol; Ethanol production; Fermentation; Hamsters; Motor impairment