Alcohol selection by strains of rats selectively bred for behavior.

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Abstract
Male and female rats of 2 Maudsley, 3 Roman and 2 Tryon strains, selectively bred for open-field defecation, escape-avoidance conditioning and maze-learning, respectively, were presented with 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12% wt/vol alcohol solutions for 7 days each, and their alcohol intake and intake ratios (alcohol intake:total fluid intake) were measured (6 rats per sex and strain). Alcohol intake showed highly significant differences between the males. The mean daily alcohol intake ratios showed significant overall differences between concentration and strain but not sex. (The females consumed more alcohol but also more water than did the males.) The Maudsley reactive strain had a higher intake of 8% and 12% alcohol than did the nonreactive strain. In the Roman strain the intake decreased in the order high-avoidance > control > low-avoidance strain; the Tryon maze-dull rats showed a lower alcohol-aversion threshold than the maze-bright strain. There was little support for a relationship between alcohol intake and emotionality when considering all strains; though the more emotional Tryon and Maudsley strains had higher intake ratios, this relationship was reversed in the Roman rats.

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