Ethanol, nicotine, amphetamine, and aspartame consumption and preferences in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice.

Using a two-bottle choice paradigm, adult C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (11 males an 10 females per strain) were given access to tapwater and an ascending series of concentrations of ethanol, nicotine, amphetamine, and th artificial sweetener, aspartame. The C57 mice consumed more ethanol, nicotine, and amphetamine, and showed greater preferences for these substances, than did the DBA/2 mice. In contrast, DBAs consumed more and showed greater preference for aspartame than C57s. However, measures of drug and aspartame consumption and preference were moderately intercorrelated when the effects of gender and strain were controlled for. This pattern of results suggests that factors modulating differences between C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice in ethanol consumption and preference also modulate differences in consumption of nicotine and amphetamine.