Magnetic resonance imaging approaches for studying alcoholism using mouse models.

Mice are one of the most commonly used animal models of alcoholism, and extensive genetic and behavioral data related to alcohol consumption and its consequences in different strains are available. However, only recently have researchers begun to combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology with other experimental strategies to study the effects of alcohol in mice. This powerful combination enables structural and functional data of alcohol's effects on the brain of living animals to be obtained. This article reviews the challenges associated with the use of these technologies in mice and discusses the application of these advanced technologies to mouse models of alcoholism.