Effects of ethanol on social behaviour directed towards male intruders by lactating Swiss mice.

Ethanol (0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg) was given intraperitoneally to lactating Swiss strain mice and the animal's response to a docile male intruder was assessed using a videotape analysis that estimated the time that the females allocated to non-social, social/sexual, aggressive and timid categories of response. No evidence was produced in this study that alcohol augmented aggression although conditions were certainly conducive for such an effect. Alcohol does, however, modify aspects of social behaviour in lactating female mice.