Alcohol sensitivity in female mice: effect of ovariectomy.

This study tested the hypothesis that decreased estrogen levels accomplished by removing the ovaries affect the response to acutely administered alcohol in female mice. Sensitivity to alcohol was measured in ovariectomized, sham-operated, and non-surgical control C3H/HEN mice. Each animal received an IP injection of alcohol (3.0 or 4.0 g/kg). Core temperature, fall time, sleep time, and waking blood alcohol levels were the dependent variables. For each of these measures, alcohol sensitivity was found to be a function of the dose of alcohol administered, but not the surgical condition. Additionally, the stage of estrus in control animals was not found to be related to alcohol sensitivity.